Life Lessons in the Garden
Dearest and I worked in our garden the first official day of summer. The garden can be such a source for learning. I can so well envision what God is teaching me there.
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; Song of Solomon 2:12Stressed Out
While just a few days/weeks prior my potted Petunias and Geraniums looked so lush and lovely, yesterday they were stressed out by their circumstances. We’ve had several very hot days and dry conditions. I had to clean up that which was dead and prune back the plants to encourage better growth. I hadn’t been watering it as I should, therefore it became susceptible.
The same for me. If I go on and on doing my daily activities and don’t take the time to ‘water’ myself with spending time in God’s word, I become wilted and susceptible to stress.Damaged by Severe Circumstances
My dear La Marne rose, the very old one by the front porch received a lot of damage from last winter’s ice storm It had been bent over and some branches broke. I did not prune away as I should have and yesterday I had to take drastic action. A lot of the bush had died and the whole bush was in danger. There was new growth there but the nourishment it needed was not getting to it. I had to cut away the dead and to prune back the unproductive. It now looks better, quite different. I will give it tender care in nourishing it back to health.
Some people go through severe circumstances. We may not see it right away, but they could be drastically and severely damaged. Guarding thought life is so very vital. How we think can so affect our mental as well as our physical health. Cleaning – pruning out wrong thoughts and bad information is so necessary. Go back to what is good and healthy. Take gentle care of your mind – my Grandmother used to advise me, ‘what’s down in the well, comes up in the bucket’. Fill your mind and heart with the right, good thoughts and when severe circumstances come, you’ll be ‘healthier’ and can withstand knowing how best to act-not react.Deadheading
Spring is long gone and in some cases we’re beyond the ‘first day of summer’ stages. Our seasons run early here so in a sense we’re in the late summer stage. A lot of flowers which looked lovely once now are dead or have become seedheads. If I prune these back the plant will be healthy and perhaps may have another flush of blooms.
We can’t live on past glories or circumstances. These things happen and are good – but today needs our attention and we need to put things into perspective and to ‘let go’ of the past whether good or bad to be more productive for today-in a sense to continue to be vital and creative today.Watering and Feeding
While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Genesis 8:22
Anything that is overfed or underfed is not healthy. I have been quite busy of late and have not had the time to properly care for my flowers – especially those that are in the pots. It was in the evening after work when I noticed my potted Petunias and Geraniums appearing wilted and stressed out. That time was not the time to water heavily. It was still hot and too much water then would stress them out. The key is not to panic, give the plant a little water and to come back early in the morning to give it a better watering. Then come back later and prune back to further encourage healthy growth.
It is so vital for us not to get too busy to forget to take care of ourselves. I am going through all of my necessary physical exams – one concern was found – will be addressed next month – otherwise all looks fine so far. If I feed myself properly – get the right nutrients, water and rest – I can continue to be healthy. Those things that are not healthy can be dealt with as well. We also have to realize some things are out of our control. One of the things I can control is eating improperly – it has shown in the extra pounds I’m now carrying. Dearest and I have not actually – ‘gone on a diet’, but we’re making proper changes – eating less, drinking more water and getting exercise. We’re seeing the result. One of my inspirations is my neighbor – she’s 95 and walks to town every day. She is slim, keeps her mind sharp – she obviously takes good care of herself – nothing too extreme-I like that.Keep a watch out for Pests
This time of the year we’re inundated with the terrible Japanese Beetle. Ugh! This bug can make the appearance of my roses and some other flowers look aweful. For those roses that are perpetual bloomers – I cut off all flowers and buds for a season. I’m taking away this critter’s food source – I ‘attack‘ this bug with soapy water in the mornings by tapping them to fall into a plastic container filled with the soapy water as I walk through the garden. Other pests can be taken care of that simply and should be.
As with keeping watch on our hearts and minds, we need to keep an eye out for those who influence our lives. Do their suggestions and attitudes affect how we live and believe. I go back to the source – God’s word for instruction and guidance. If these ideas and thoughts don’t fit – I tap them away – so to speak. In this world there are so many ideas and philosophies being touted as ‘right’ but do they agree with God’s word or are they the world’s doctrine. We cannot abide or mix the two. Be aware and clear it out of your thoughts – thoughts result in belief and actions. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15: 5-8Eye On The Sparrow
The words from that song fill my mind! While I am taking care of my garden, I know my sweet Jesus is taking care of me. He’s pruning away things in my life and showing me things in my life and heart I need to address to be beautiful in his sight. And that is exactly what and where I want to be.
I am sharing this post with these Delightsome blog parties:
Teacup Tuesday Teacup Tuesday Teatime Tuesday Friends Sharing Tea