For the past few weeks, I have been avoiding writing this post (laying out my garden). I thought perhaps the weather had me bummed. While I am certainly sick of the bitter cold, blowing wind and constant snow, I know planning my garden is a reminder that this winter weather will subside. Soon enough we will be outside in shorts and tank tops, running through sprinklers and hanging clothes on the clothesline. I can almost smell the fresh cut grass and sunscreen now--almost!
Over these past few weeks, I've thought about how I started my gardening journey. I started off so excited, so pumped to give my family a year's supply of food. I had charts and numbers; it was all broken down. So what am I dawdling about? I played around with how to lay out my garden over and over, all 690 square feet of it. Every time I decided on how to fit everything I decided it just wasn't right?
Such a huge undertaking has me overwhelmed, it is causing worry, a feeling of burden and anxiety. This garden was to be a blessing to my family and I. Yet, here I am, avoiding it. The Lord does not want us to have anxiety and worry. So, I stepped back and thought, what good is going to come of something that causes me worry, anxiety and dare I say it...sinfulness?
Nothing--no good is going to come from it. The Lord is not blessing, nor will he bless something that causes sin. I don't want that if one of my sweet little kiddos accidentally tramples a tomato plant, me to enter into a state of panic and anger.
So, in stepping back, I'm looking at what goals I have, and how I can make this garden be a blessed garden.
Firstly, I want to make this something that I can do with my kids that we all enjoy and have fond memories off. As a child I have three of my favorite "garden memories."
1) Eating green beans fresh off my neighbor (Mrs. K's) green bean vines
2) Playing with my cousin, Paula's, sunflower house (which was simply sunflowers that were planted in a square)
3) Snitching raspberries off of my grandpa's raspberry bushes
Simply put, if I can have green beans, a sunflower house and a few raspberry bushes I know that my garden will achieve my top goal. My kids will love it, I'll find joy in it and it will not cause me anxiety!
Secondly, I want a reason to step outside daily and just enjoy God's creation!
Genesis 1:11-12
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
I want to please God with my attitude and patience. I want God to look down at me happily working in my garden and say, "It is good!" I don't want him seeing me exhaustively canning my 100th jar of pickles and say "She sure missed the point!" So, I shall scale it back to a level that will allow me time to look up from weeding and see the beauty that is God's creation!
Finally, I want to provide food for my family. I decided what I really want in the end is tomato sauce, garlic and carrots. Anything above that will be in moderation.
So it is settled, green bean, sunflower house, raspberry bushes, tomatoes, garlic and carrots are a must, the rest is a bonus! That I can find calm in. I know with that I can relax a bit!
So much is difficult in life. There are lunches to pack,bills to pay, clothes to fix, taxes to prepare, mail to open, sheets to wash, the list goes on and on. In all of this, we have to remember that God has lifted the biggest burden we have and he wants us to focus on this joy! And for me, what a better way to see the beauty and joy that our Lord has given us, than a walk through my attempt at a humbled down version of Eden.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Over these past few weeks, I've thought about how I started my gardening journey. I started off so excited, so pumped to give my family a year's supply of food. I had charts and numbers; it was all broken down. So what am I dawdling about? I played around with how to lay out my garden over and over, all 690 square feet of it. Every time I decided on how to fit everything I decided it just wasn't right?
Psalm 127: 1-2
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Such a huge undertaking has me overwhelmed, it is causing worry, a feeling of burden and anxiety. This garden was to be a blessing to my family and I. Yet, here I am, avoiding it. The Lord does not want us to have anxiety and worry. So, I stepped back and thought, what good is going to come of something that causes me worry, anxiety and dare I say it...sinfulness?
Nothing--no good is going to come from it. The Lord is not blessing, nor will he bless something that causes sin. I don't want that if one of my sweet little kiddos accidentally tramples a tomato plant, me to enter into a state of panic and anger.
So, in stepping back, I'm looking at what goals I have, and how I can make this garden be a blessed garden.
Firstly, I want to make this something that I can do with my kids that we all enjoy and have fond memories off. As a child I have three of my favorite "garden memories."
1) Eating green beans fresh off my neighbor (Mrs. K's) green bean vines
2) Playing with my cousin, Paula's, sunflower house (which was simply sunflowers that were planted in a square)
3) Snitching raspberries off of my grandpa's raspberry bushes
Simply put, if I can have green beans, a sunflower house and a few raspberry bushes I know that my garden will achieve my top goal. My kids will love it, I'll find joy in it and it will not cause me anxiety!
Secondly, I want a reason to step outside daily and just enjoy God's creation!
Genesis 1:11-12
Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
I want to please God with my attitude and patience. I want God to look down at me happily working in my garden and say, "It is good!" I don't want him seeing me exhaustively canning my 100th jar of pickles and say "She sure missed the point!" So, I shall scale it back to a level that will allow me time to look up from weeding and see the beauty that is God's creation!
Finally, I want to provide food for my family. I decided what I really want in the end is tomato sauce, garlic and carrots. Anything above that will be in moderation.
So it is settled, green bean, sunflower house, raspberry bushes, tomatoes, garlic and carrots are a must, the rest is a bonus! That I can find calm in. I know with that I can relax a bit!
So much is difficult in life. There are lunches to pack,bills to pay, clothes to fix, taxes to prepare, mail to open, sheets to wash, the list goes on and on. In all of this, we have to remember that God has lifted the biggest burden we have and he wants us to focus on this joy! And for me, what a better way to see the beauty and joy that our Lord has given us, than a walk through my attempt at a humbled down version of Eden.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Someone said the other day "Don't let a project ever get in front of people." I have to say that to myself all of the time when I'm with my kids. I will be concentrating so hard on something and they will interrupt or i will want to make something and I know that it won't turn out as perfectly if there are little hands involved. So lately I've been taking a deep breath and just telling myself "this isn't as important as them." You will have a lovely garden and God will bless your efforts in being a great mom but also He will give you the desires of your heart if you are seeking him ... pretty plants AND good memories with your kiddos. :)
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