Fleeting Beauty

Spring had arrived and it was time to clean up the yard. Just moving into our new little home, we had no idea what kind of flowers and plants were in the gardens. I spent some time cleaning up the front garden and planted some lovely perennials. It seemed good and so I left it to bloom in it’s glory.

Longing to create a place to relax during the summer months, we then began to spend quite a bit of time fussing and creating the perfect backyard retreat. Most days during the summer for us were spent “vacationing” in the backyard and so it was important for us to have a place to "get away".  About a week later I peaked my head out the front door, and actually stopped at the front step. My eyes popped wide when I discovered that a lovely vine had overtaken the front garden. Well it was a lovely vine, but not the designs that I had for my garden. Only a few weeks ago I had thriving blooms in my front garden. They were now beginning to look shriveled and choked by this unsuspecting vine. I began pulling at this vine with a vengeance, carefully removing it from around the flowers and shrubs. I pulled and I pulled, weeded and weeded only to discover that this vine ran deep with multiple shoots and roots all over the garden. To my dismay, I wondered if I could save this garden when I discovered the same vine had invaded my garden space again, only days later.

Life is like that. We must pay close attention to those things that seem lovely, like the vine in my garden. The sin in our lives may be temporary indulgence, like that decadent chocolate cake, but eventually it will tell on us, by showing up on our hips and thighs. Trust me, I know. In addition, emotions such as bitterness, fear, anger and past wounds along with so many other negative emotions will affect how we respond to others that we touch in our lives. It will also stunt our walk with God until we face it, let it go and forgive. If left unattended they can invade our hearts and choke the life and the beauty of Christ within us.  We become fleeting beauty.

Just like the vine that kept growing back in my garden, sometimes things that you thought you dealt with, can crop up and try to choke us again. There will be times when the root of your pain is very deep and it may require some emotional escavating. There's no need for an anxious heart. God can save the heart of any garden, heal failing and wounded flowers, and pull out the weeds. He is the Master Gardener.

Take note of these things in your life that choke your spirit and your joy. Quickly attend to them face to face with God and let God do a work in the garden of your heart. He'll plant a new song, mercy and forgiveness as well as a fresh earth ready for a new work in your garden, with room for more lovely flowers.

	Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2 -- (New American Standard)
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