Weeds in my garden

Some people would look at this dandelion and see salad. No thanks. There are dogs who regularly pass by the backyard.

Some people would look at the yellow flower and think it's was intentionally planted. It wasn't.

I don't want to admit how many times I've tried to dig it up, but it keeps coming back because I didn't get all of the root, apparently it's very deep.

The same could be said about sin in my life.

Many of my thistles are revealed on a daily basis to everyone who knows me.

The sins I commit aren't 'biggies' that would garner national attention. They are usually small petty things like pride, anger, bitterness and over eating — things that blend in with the people around me so it looks normal and in place.

Every day I try to avoid gossip. I try to treat others like I want to be treated. I try to make wise food choices. I try to bring honor to God by my words and actions.

Every day I try, yet the dandelions in my life keep coming back because I can't dig deep enough to get to the root of my problem.

Then of course I'm reminded "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty.

It's only by the power of the Holy Spirit that the sin in my life will be corrected and some day completely eradicated.

And knowing that "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Encourages me to keep digging, keep trying, because I want to look the very best on the inside and outside for the One who saved me.

Taking care of the garden

My weight loss journey is very much like tending my garden.

Every year at this time I'm filled with hope and visions for the backyard.  I will work feverishly getting weeds pulled, plants fed and beds mulched.  My muscles loudly protest at the bending, twisting, tugging and pulling and the poison ivy makes me miserable, but I press on because I know it will be worth it.

By late-spring everything is almost perfect. The flowers are blooming, the weeds are under control, insects aren't an issue and the warm glorious sun is a blessing for me and the plants. The vegetable garden has neat little rows of tomatoes, beans and squash, promising a bounty for our dinner table.  As soon as I'm prescribed prednisone the poison ivy blisters disappear.

I'm sure that Better Homes and Gardens will be calling soon wanting to do an article on the yard. Life is good.

Lamb's Ear

By the time summer approaches my muscles have forgiven me and the poison ivy has healed but the flower beds aren't as pretty as they could be.  The weeds have reappeared, black spot and insects — especially Japanese beetles — have become my nemesis, and the birds, rabbits and squirrels are regularly raiding the vegetable garden when I'm not looking.  I'm discouraged, but I haven't given up hope.

When August comes, I have retreated to the air conditioned living room. The sun has become an enemy and scorched what was left of my pitiful vegetable garden. The weeds have completely overrun the flower beds, the black spot has stripped the roses bare and the grass crunches under my feet. The only thing that's thriving is the lamb's ear which seems to be able to grow in concrete and the poison ivy is waiting patiently in the bushes to attack me at least one more time before Thanksgiving.

When I do venture out in the scalding heat it's only long enough to declare that I give up. I'm not going to bother with a garden next year because it's just not worth the effort.

The winter months will find me daydreaming about tulips, roses and fresh tomatoes. I've completely forgotten about the failures, heat and skin rashes. I'm spending a good deal of my time perusing garden magazines trying to decide what I'll put in place of plants that didn't make it last year. I can almost taste the tomato sandwiches AND I have a new soap that's supposed to prevent poison ivy.

The changes I'm making physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally are just like my garden.  There are different seasons each bringing different challenges. I've had set backs and become very discouraged but I know that there are also rewards to my effort and if something isn't working out like I had hoped it would …well... I'll just focus on what is working, start thinking about what I can do different next time and be very thankful that exercising regularly, making good food choices and staying in God's Word will not expose me to poison ivy.

Group Effort

Did you know that you needed two different varieties of blueberry bushes to produce blueberries? I didn't until I went shopping for some plants last week.

Apparently they need each other to cross-pollenate to bear fruit.

When I look at the two bushes I can't tell the difference except for the garden tag that identifies them as Powder Blue and Tifblue plants.  They look exactly the same to my amateur eye, but I've been assured by the master gardener who sold them to me that they have the different DNA required to fill my freezer full of blueberries in about three years.

Which got me to thinking, about our FP4H class. Although we don't all look alike we need others to cross-pollenate to bear fruit, to succeed, to become strong and healthy individuals.

The exchange of ideas, encouragement and feedback from our different DNA is vital to our ability to bear fruit. It was God's intention for us to need Him and each other.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work." Ecclesiastes 4:9

We share other similarities with my blueberry plants. Our root system will naturally run shallow until the Master Garden prunes us; we require full Son; and when we bloom where we are planted the fruit we bear will be sweet.

Take THAT Aetna!

     For the past few months I've been receiving letters from Aetna, my medical insurance provider, telling me that it was very likely that I had developed diabetes and I needed to see my physician to help me control the disease.
     I was annoyed with the insurance company that they would presume to know what's best for me.
     Of course they didn't realize that I have been steadily losing weight with the FP4H class (18 pounds now!), I've been exercising regularly and I've eliminated most of the refined sugars and unhealthy fats from my diet.
     However Aetna should know that I see my Dr. for regular check-ups and she is diligent in monitoring my blood stats — they pay the claims.
   Yesterday was my scheduled annual visit to the Dr. and all of my blood tests revealed a drastic improvement from a year ago.  My blood pressure was normal, and for the first time since my cholesterol levels have been monitored my totals were well below 200, and the best news ever was that my blood sugar was well within normal limits! Yea me!
     My Dr. mentioned the letters she had received from Aetna informing her that I was diabetic and that she should change up my meds to treat the disease.
     She commented, "They are acting like I'm not doing a good job treating you!"as she pulled four letters from the file and threw them away.
     How cool is that, that I've been freed from the threat of diabetes, even my medical file is getting thinner and Aetna will have to dream up something else to worry about!