Tag: deep thoughts

A Day Late….

You’ve heard the saying “A day late and a dollar short”.

That is the story of my garden.

But then again, it can’t be the story of my garden because technically, my garden does not yet exist.

I knew – at least in my head – that early spring things need to be in the garden in the early spring. But I think the snow and cold lulled me into a false security, which left me woefully unprepared for the warm weather.

Of course my Amish neighbors were ready. When the sun finally broke through and the grass greened up, they watched their peas and lettuce burst out of the ground. They threw open their cold frames to reveal beautiful cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower plants.

They didn’t worry too much about the current weather, they knew that eventually spring would come.

And they acted accordingly.

Meanwhile, my garden remains untilled, my seed packages are sitting in the basement and my fresh lettuce salads live only in my dreams.

Somehow I lost sight of the fact of tomorrow in the midst of living today.

I forgot that winter doesn’t last forever. Spring happens. Always.

As I busied myself playing catch-up in the garden the last few days, I wondered just what other areas in my life have I been lulled into thinking that things would never change?

Are there relationships that need to be restored?

Forgiveness that needs to be extended?

Bad attitudes that need to be weeded?

Encouragement that should have been given?

Those cold dark season of life won’t last forever.

Let’s plant those seeds and wait.

Spring will come.

Always.

 

 

“String Too Short to Be Used”

TinRecently a friend told us about cleaning out his grandparent’s house after they died.

They were pretty unique characters who had lived in the mountains of North Carolina through the worst of the Great Depression and their house showed it.

It was full of odd collections and hidden coins.

But what caught my attention was the tin they discovered labeled “string too short to be used”.

It was full of tiny pieces of string that were obviously too short to be functional.

We chuckled at the absurdity of saving something that had no use .

And not just saving it – but acknowledging on a label that it was useless – and still saving it!

What a waste! Think of the time and energy they took to gather the string, find the tin and put it in. Think of the wonderful things that tin could have held if the string was gone.

Somehow, living in the shadow of the Great Depression warped their mindset until they were unable to let go.  They had a desperate fear of being in need and hung on to everything – just in case.

But then I thought of my own heart – just like that tin – where I’ve tucked away many useless things.

Wrong attitudes, bad habits, pride – things that are not useful, but take up valuable space and time.

I have a desperate fear of needing them, a warped idea that they will somehow protect me in a time of need.

What if someone hurts me – I’ll need that pride.

What if I crave some comfort – I’ll need those habits.

What is someone asks me to change – I’ll need those attitudes.

Yet – in the light of scripture – I can see them for what they are – worthless .

Just like a tin of string too short to be used.

Think of the wonderful things that could occupy that space – things like peace, love, and patience.

Maybe it’s time to empty my tin.

Maybe it’s time to let go.