Weeds

I love gardening! We are having a big birthday party for my mom in October so I figure if I start now, working a little every day, I can be ready with a beautiful home and yard. We have let the yard go because of other pressing matters. Wow, what a lot of work but I love to be outside working in the dirt, thinking.
We have these ferns growing in the front planter. They are green and beautiful. As I start to pull some of them out I realize that they are choking out the other pretty plants and more delicate ferns growing there. They are very invasive. When I pull up a clump there are huge roots and these balls attached. I am sure there are more of these under the ground and know that I will be pulling these ferns out forever. The roots are so deep and the core so big that I fell on my rear pulling one out. But I got it!
It looks like these ferns don’t need as much water as the other surrounding plants because of its deep roots. So as they grow larger the other plants get less water, air and sun. Now the area looks a little bare. With patience and some tender loving care I will bring out the California Poppy seeds that I have planted and nurse back to health the other plants in the area.
Like the invasive fern, sin can creep into my life. I don’t always see it at first. Sometimes it is even beautiful. But when I see the results of the goodness in my life being choked out I know I have to do some gardening! I ask God into my heart every day, to fill it so there isn’t room for anything else. He helps me identify the weeds and sometimes I fall trying to pull them out! But He is there to help me back up. I dust off and begin again with renewed hope and trust. I nurture the Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and Self Control that God has put in my heart. Then I can say “I got it!” I understand your goodness Lord.