lawn maintenance & other failures of mine

Fail.

I’m pretty sure I get an “F” in the yard maintenance category of life.  My yard is a hot mess. Yard work is not my favorite thing to do.  My motto is if you water the lawn you have to mow it so don’t water it. My yard is natural. Whatever God placed here is all I need.  I even gave away my lawn mower after it sat idle for three summers.  This way I figure I guarantee I’ll never get the bug to have any grass.  I have no lawn mower.  I like flowers and I can manage perennials.  Some landscaping is in my future with rocks and some bushes but I’ll keep it pretty simple.

I’ll save my time for other things in life that are more important to me.   I’m happy with my yard.  After all it’s mine.  Some people are just blessed with a green thumb and it is a beautiful hobby.  It’s just not mine.

Spiritually speaking……

“If the grass is greener on the other side, it’s time to start watering your own lawn.”

I’m not exactly sure where I first heard this phrase or I would give credit to the author. 

I LOVE IT. 

Why do we compare our “lawns” to everyone else’s?  Whether it is stuff, a job, position, ministry, car, spouse, etc.  Discontentment is complaining about what you do have and also complaining about what you don’t have.  Take a step back and listen, really listen.  Before you desire a new this or that ask yourself,  “Have I been faithful with what I have been given?”  “Have I been thankful for what I’ve been blessed with.” 

Before I purchased my 3600 sq ft house with 7.5 acres and more toilets than I’ve ever had, I came from a tiny rental house.  It was maybe 900 sq ft.  There were only 4 rooms.  Kitchen, living room, bathroom and I shared the bedroom with my son.  Now we have 4 bedrooms alone and there’s only 2 of us.

What these two houses have in common, I was just as content there as I am now. Sure I’m excited I have more room to have more friends over and host more parties.  And let’s not forget my scrapbook room.  BUT, I was just as thankful in that tiny precious house that was all mine that God provided for us as I am today.  (and no, I didn’t water the lawn at the small house either)

What I can tell you is it is just stuff.  God has entrusted me with it and while I have the blessing of taking care of it, I will.  If I move in future, all that will change is my address.

Be content.  Learn it.  Strive for it.  If you need to, apply some Miracle Grow.  Just work at it. 

Matthew 5:5 (MSG) - You're blessed when you're content with just who you are-no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

i can see clearly now

A little light on the subject sure does help a girl out.  Let me tell you about my procrastination and how simple the remedy to my problem really was.

The home I purchased had a refrigerator that came with the house.  This refrigerator had no light bulb inside so when you opened the door to the fridge it was completely dark.  This made it difficult to find what you were looking for.  It also hid the cleanliness of my glass shelves.  This wasn’t so bad during the day but at night it required an extra step to turn the main kitchen light on.  It also required extra electricity.  

Embarrassingly enough I have procrastinated fixing this for 3.5 years.  Silly.  In my defense I purchased a light bulb once and it ending up being the wrong kind.  So, I guess I gave up again.  Still so silly why it sat unresolved.

Fast forward to when I purchased an antique china hutch from an auction for my formal dinning room.  The previous owner included a spare light bulb in one of the drawers that fit the upper section.  This looks so beautiful at night when it is turned on and makes my china and crystal sparkle. 

The sad part……..

A friend came over and went to put something away in my fridge and asked if it wasn’t working because no light came on.  I said something to the sound of “It’s not broke I just haven’t replaced the bulb.”  This made me realize how silly this was of me. 

As one of my favorite animated characters, Gru, would say “LIGHT BULB.”

I got a “bright” idea.  I should try the extra light bulb from the china hutch on the fridge and see if it works. 

Guess what?  It sure did.  A little light on the subject sure is nice.

God so gently reminded me of the importance of consistently reading His word.  It is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 

Psalms 139:23 & 24 [MSG]

Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I'm about;
See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.

The heart is very corrupt.  We are liable to deceive ourselves.  We have a conflict of interest when we leave it to ourselves to search our own heart.  If we let God thoroughly search our hearts it is for our benefit, not His.  He already knows what is contained in there and loves us unconditionally. 

Sometimes God may use a close friend, family member or a spouse to reveal to us a condition in our heart.  Test and try this before the Lord for yourself.  If He confirms it in you then your best bet is to correct it .

A little light on the subject matter of the heart sure exposes what is on the “shelf.”