Lessons From The Yard

5/18/2022

Written By: Margie Davis

Lessons from the yard…

Lesson #1 -On the way through Tennessee recently we began to see fields FULL of GORGEOUS yellow flowers. As a farmer’s daughter, I had a strong suspicion that they weren’t supposed to be there, but gosh they were so beautiful to the eye and very abundant. I decided to Google them and see what they were. Those vibrant, alluring yellow flowers are called “Tall Buttercup.” As it turns out, they aren’t a flower at all but a weed that is highly invasive, toxic to grazing animals, poisonous to human skin and also quite smelly. So, this lesson from nature is somewhat obvious. Satan tempts us with things that are pleasing to the senses, and even though God instructs us to stay away, we can be easily lured! Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye…she took some…” This began the fall of man!

Lesson #2-Pruning. Every year my rose bush delights me with beautiful deep pinkish red roses. But the thing with roses is that they MUST be pruned in order to continue to produce beautiful blooms. I have to make the decision to cut them back. And I HATE pruning them because they just look like a colorless bush immediately following. But I know to wait. Because one morning I will look out my window and see little rosebuds forming. And soon it will be an even more beautiful bush, absolutely FULL of brand new blooms. This lesson from nature is that we must get rid of the dead things in our lives if we want new growth. We HAVE to make the decision to ELIMINATE things in our lives in order to RECEIVE things in our lives. John 15:2 – “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Lesson #3 -In the Spring, I go to my yard and evaluate what needs to be done. I notice that leaves and other debris tend to cover my outdoor plants. I get on my knees and gently pull away all the leaves and debris. I don’t use a rake because I know that there is likely new, tender life underneath. This year I took note of how quickly the plants responded to the sunlight! Within hours they had grown up 2 inches or more. We must have exposure to the light in order to grow. We stayed inside for so long during the pandemic. Maybe our spiritual growth slowed down a bit. When we REALLY spend time in the presence of God, that is where REAL light is! And its where we can have a growth spurt! Come to church. Read your Bible. Find a spiritual buddy who can bring light into your dark places. The Winter is over. Get rid of the debris and come out into the light! And when you’re helping someone else come out from under all their “debris” be gentle; there is new, tender life just under the surface. Isaiah 60:1-“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you:”

Lesson #4 – Broken Shells-I walked along the beach in Panama City last week the day after a storm that brought in some amazingly large waves. I saw piles and piles of broken shells. But among the broken pieces were some completely whole and beautiful shells as well. Even though we go through storms and even though pieces of us get broken by those storms, there are always parts of us that remain whole and beautiful. We don’t have to be completely broken. God uses both the broken pieces of us AND those parts that remain intact. Those broken pieces of us may turn into beautiful soft sand beneath our feet and the feet of those who walk in our steps later. Transformation often begins with a crisis (storm). The brokenness that came from your storm may be the greatest gift God has ever given you. Psalm 51:16-18 –“A broken spirit is my sacrifice, God. You won’t despise a heart, God, that is broken and crushed.”

Today, take a walk and look around you. We all LONG for the presence of God! We have it!!! He is there! Just look and listen!

Romans 1:20 – For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.