When we lived in our old house, I managed to create a garden of pretty epic proportions on a hill. It wasn’t just a mound, but a real hill, that almost required mountain boots to climb. That didn’t deter me. You see, when we first moved into that house, my husband would cut the grass each week and almost ran the power mower into the street on more than one occasion. I love my husband and wanted him to hang around for a while, so on Mother’s Day, some 22 years ago, I began my quest.
I started small, with little gardens at the top of the hill. With my little spade, I worked my way slowly down. My intention was to fill that space with perennials which would need little care. The soil was good, but there was a certain amount of clay intermixed, so my spade had to often be replaced by a shovel. By then I’d carved out a few areas where I could actually stand.
In the process, I encountered some very interesting invasive weeds. Since I was doing this slowly, I often had to go back and remove the same weeds time after time. The roots were so long, it was almost impossible to dig them out completely. Eventually the hill was “finished,” but not without constant attention. My husband helped me to place boulders and some retaining brick to keep the soil from eroding, but the weeds were a never ending task.
I was about 26 years younger when we bought that house. I could still maneuver the hill with a fair amount of agility and grace, but often found myself being the neighborhood floor show – as people anticipated my rolling down the hill at one point or another – which I did a few times.
As the years rolled on, my acrobatics weren’t as evident. I was lucky to get out once a week to pull weeds. Those persistent little critters just wouldn’t go away by themselves. Beautiful flowers now existed, but the weeds just wouldn’t give up. Roots often forked out in different directions and I found myself almost re-digging that hill to get rid of them.
I imagine the devil must be the king of weeds. After all the Garden of Eden didn’t include any invasive species – except for him. He weaseled his way into human hearts and separated them from God. He continues to do so as we see the world becoming more and more corrupt and hateful.
Like weeds, the devil knows how to use the things that get us to doubt God’s power. He makes us feel we’re superior to God. He goads us into sin and evil. We can ask God for forgiveness and know that we receive it through His Son, Jesus, but that old evil weed builder keeps on burrowing into our hearts. That’s why daily repentance is necessary.
Until Jesus returns to earth again, this will be a daily battle, but think of what lies ahead – a paradise where the devil no longer is free to roam – an eternal garden with no weeds – no sin.
We often tell our children not to be afraid. We say the same to our spouses, friends, relatives, even those we barely know. There are so may times we’re told to reach out to someone when we’re troubled or when things get tough. If only it was that easy.. We face all kinds or trouble from the moment we enter this world. We come out kicking and screaming and often leave in the same way. We often need someone other than ourselves to get us through those difficult times.
