Life Lessons from the Garden

Thinking back to Saturday and clearing out the front flowerbed… Life lessons were flooding my mind as the Holy Spirit highlighted details of my work. As I pulled and chopped back, I noticed a number of things.

1. When I cut back flowers that had bloomed and were now fading, younger, thriving plants were already waiting underneath for adequate space and light to grow to their full potential.

2. Some of the dying plants were trying to bloom again, prompting me to make a choice about what to keep and what to chop back in favor of others.

3. There were a lot more weeds growing under the tangled mess of dying flowers than I’d have thought. They were taking advantage of the circumstances to spread and grow.

4. A good gardener cares about the big picture. The long-view. The end-goal and the details it takes to get there. They’re willing to make the hard decisions that may be misunderstood by on-lookers to reach the desired end.

5. It takes intentional time and energy to achieve what you desire.

It takes intentional time and energy to achieve what you desire. #emptynest #goals Click To Tweet

 

As I jotted down notes in my journal, the Holy Spirit asked me a few questions to bring it back to how these details applied to my life right now, and what I was going to do about it. Take a minute and see if these might also help you move forward with grace.

Points to ponder…

• What’s growing underneath, waiting for its opportunity to thrive?
• What is dying but trying to hold on? What are you going to do about it?
• What weeds have taken advantage of the circumstances?
• Is the environment promoting what you think it is?
• Is your time and energy being spent intentionally?
• Do you trust the Gardener? Do you lean in to see Him working; to get His perspective?

I’d love to hear how you’re moving forward, chopping and planting and blooming!