WATERCOLOR ART BY KATHY BOECHER

It’s hotter than blazes out there. I feel like MInnesota has become the new garden state, because I’m seeing all kinds of beautiful gardens this year. Perhaps there’s something good to say about global warming. Since it has been so difficult for me to breathe this tropical air, I’ve had to neglect my garden somewhat. I used to be able to get up at 6 AM to water my flowers early. I used to spend hours in the morning eliminating countless weeds. I used to take the time to divide plants and place some in new settings, creating new smaller garden areas. This year my get up and go – got up and left. My energy level is much lower than it was a year ago. My body is resisting bending, lifting and getting down on my knees. The chores that used to be easy and fulfilling seem to have vanished along with my get up and go.

Despite my frustration with being unable to handle the tasks I did last year, God seems to be doing an OK job of creating beautiful flowers that I never even planted. Wildflowers have popped up and seem to be overtaking some of the weeds. Someone once said that weeds are simply flowers that are in the wrong place. With little rain and lots of humid, smokey air, a lot of my garden is droopy, but always seems to revive after a good watering.

We as Christians can become infected with sin and darkness when we aren’t vigilant in our prayer life or our daily walk with Christ.  We need to be pruned and reshaped.  We need to get the weeds out before they overtake us. We find it difficult to pay attention to our souls.  Sometimes we take our faith for granted.  We neglect going to church.  We forget about searching the Scriptures.  It sometimes seems too much like work.

When we finally finish the work in our yard, things will look lovely again, but they won’t stay that way.  It is a lifetime battle to weed out the icky stuff in our lives too.  The hope we have is not in the things of this world, but in our Heavenly Father – who paid the price that we could never pay.

Thank you, Father, for weeding the sin from my soul.  You gracefully bestowed forgiveness through your one and only Son, Jesus. You know my weaknesses and shortcomings. You have freed me from the clutches of the devil. You breathe new life into me daily and I thank you for every new day you give me. I praise you for your precious, unconditional love. Amen!