Pulling weeds from your garden

I love to work in my garden and yard.  The temperature is getting warm enough so I have gotten back out there and it is exciting!

My vegetable garden is in place and I am waiting for my local (albeit modest) harvest of tomatoes, peppers (4 different kinds), potatoes, onions, and various herbs to grow.  I have to wait up to 90 days but the planting, fertilizer, watering, careful pruning, and weed pulling will all be worth the deliciousness that awaits.

My yard is green again.  The lovely grass is regaining its color.   From afar, it looks green and healthy.  I admired it a couple of Saturdays ago.  However, as I got on my knees and inspected it…..I saw weeds.  The horror!!!!  I put on my gloves and began to work at pulling these unpleasant guests.  You have to pull them just right.  You need to make sure you pull the whole thing out with the hairy roots.  If you don’t, it will regrow.  If you allow the weeds to continue unchecked, they will spread underground first and create a network of roots that will eventually take over the whole yard.  The yard may still be green but it will not be what was originally planted.

I have to be honest….I love pulling weeds.  I love the feeling of getting hold of the weed and pulling it out with just the right amount of coaxing, using the right pressure and moving my hand just right.  Then, I see the whole plant and root system come right up!  Ah, satisfaction!   My handiwork is below:

As I pulled weeds,  my excitement grew.  I know, I am just a bundle of fun here….but wait, seriously, it was just awesome to think that my particular effort would banish that weed from ever spreading and harming my yard or garden.  If I didn’t grab one well, it would grow back…and I would get it then.  I missed some because the yard had been mowed and the weeds were hiding but I will get those eventually…

They call me Weed Killer!!!!

That is the way of our life in Christ as well.  We are a yard and/or garden meant to grow, thrive and produce fruit.  However, sometimes we allow all sorts of weeds to stunt or choke the growth.    Those weeds may be our language, what we watch, work, food, past hurts, unfulfilled dreams, bitterness, anger, life in this world or insert the challenge here.  Our weeds are different sizes.  Some are tiny and we can’t see them yet but others are huge and spreading.  We also hold tight to some of our weeds.  We know some of them are dangerous and others we don’t think are so bad, so we let everything grow.   After all, everything is green…right?  It will blend in and from afar…as long as no one gets too close.

As we surrender and allow the Master Gardener to begin his work, those weeds will start coming out from the root.  Some of the pulling will be gentle, some not so gentle, some will be quick, and some will take time because the roots go deep.  The weed pulling process may be painful or even sad….and at times we may call out to STOP….but we must continue to allow for the gentle coaxing, the right pressure, the blessed pull that will take it all away for good.

Weed of hurt…gone.  Weed of disappointment…gone.   Weed of X, Y, Z…gone, gone, gone.

Then we must be careful to prevent them from coming back by doing those things that help our life grow towards HIM.  We must fertilize with the Word, allow the Spirit to pull weeds continually and water through worship and prayer.

Will we choose to just have our life mowed over so it looks pretty and hides the weeds?  Or will we allow God to put on the garden gloves and start pulling?

He is eager to start…and He is overjoyed at the final product…He is the perfect Master Gardener and His handiwork is a beauty.