The Thing With Weeds

A dear friend of mine is in the Ukraine doing mission
work. He has been doing this for about twenty years now -- ever since we met some wonderful Ukrainian families at the church where we were both on staff. 

Woody plans to purchase a house with some land on it. Enough land, in fact, to start gardening. Oh my.

As we talked and laughed about his current adventures his thoughts returned to the home and the land he wants to purchase. Our conversation continued to return to the land and he eventually told me he might need my guidance on farming.. Me? MY guidance? OK - even I remember the basics.

Watch out for WEEDS!

The thing with weeds is that they can grow and spread and choke all other living things. You need to pull the weeds and carefully clear around each plant.

WEEDS are BAD!

That's a little dramatic. Not ALL weeds are bad. Some weeds, in fact, are really good in your salad.

What is important is discerning between the two. If you don't get the weeds out they will choke out the vegetables and the flowers.

The book of Proverbs (24:30-32) tells us: 

I went past the field of a sluggard,
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
 thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.

Even the stone walls were run over by weeds -- all because someone didn't take the time to do what needed to be done. The thing about weeds is that they don't ever really go away. Go ahead. Go out in the garden and weed and clear around everything. The heads of little weeds will show themselves the next morning. I don't believe that is necessarily a bad thing. It is a reminder of the need for discipline in our daily living. If we ignore something, the weeds will overtake it.

It goes without saying that this makes me think of the weeds in my life. Far too often I allow them to take over and I feel as if I'm suffocating. It's important we name our weeds -- even if it is painful to do so. 

In the naming, the weeding -- the healing -- begins.

It's time for me to finish my early morning coffee and reading/writing time. I have some weeding to do. It's way past time.

Enjoying the Journey,

Debra

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

-- Proverbs 3:5-6