Gardening. A Tale of Neglect.

I don't even know how it happened. Or why. I have a couple of ideas but none of them are valid excuses. My garden is BAD. Ever heard of "pig weed"? My garden is FULL of it.

I have tried to get it back under control a few times. But it's like one step forward and three steps backward. I can almost (but not literally-because I hate the overuse of that word) hear the weeds popping up. "Pop" "Pop" "Pop pop pop" And then my back, neck and shoulder hurt for DAYS. Literally.  My would be excuses: 1) We didn't get any rain for so long I thought it was a lost cause. My rain barrel was even empty. 2) Vacation 3) I started a new job. I'm just waiting tables part time but I've mostly been a stay at home wife and mom for 23 years! And I'm in the learning curve for managing my house work and garden. And my introvertedness. And making time for my husband, kids and grandbabies! But none of that really matters. I planted a garden. And I'm so mad at myself for dropping the ball on it. And yet...

So, it looks as if I will get some yield from my garden despite my negligence. 凉

The Plans He Has For Us

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you. I know how most people read this verse, as a reassurance. A reassurance that nothing gets past God and that He has a good plan for His people. That He works everything for our good. And that’s true. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s true. But something occurred to me this morning. What if it also means that His plans are good for us. They are plans to prosper us and not to bring us to harm. So we should follow those plans. I’ve seen time and time again how when we step outside of His will, including the guardrails He sets up for us, it leads to pain and fruitless times. I’ve seen it in my own life and I’ve seen it in the lives of others. I’m not saying that if you follow God your life will be roses and sunshine. It won’t. I promise. There are examples in the Bible (Job for one, Paul for another) of the troubles that faithful people went through. And my family has been through plenty-during times we’ve been closely following God and times we haven’t. But when I am closely following God I have a strong tower. I have a “safe place”. My grandpa used to always say “just do what’s right”. And obviously, there are times when we just aren’t sure what that is (choosing between two jobs or to move or not move are examples) but many times we know what is right but we choose what is wrong. It rarely ends well.