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Writer's pictureMelanie Boutiette

Vines And Entanglements


"I turned my attention to the large back bed..."

The spring was unusually cool with frequent rains keeping parts of my yard almost muddy and my garden well-watered. I was staying busy trying to maintain my English garden and the beds all around the house along with planting my annuals in the various pots in my front garden and all over my large patio.


Finally, one cool beautiful early June day, I turned my attention back to a large waterfall we have in our backyard after the azaleas had bloomed along with irises, spring flowers, and peonies that had passed their prime. The waterfall bed now needed my attention.


Dragging my tools and debris bins to the backyard I was shocked at the overgrowth that had occurred in that rather large bed. Pulling on my gloves, I slowly worked my way around the bed trimming, raking, and cleaning up parts of the bed while filling several bins. On the back and side of the waterfall where a trellis hosted the wisteria vine, I was stunned at how the vines had spread all across that section of the bed entwining bushes, plants, rocks, and ornamental décor. Several vines had burst the bed reaching for new opportunities and even growing into my fence. In addition, wild volunteer vines too had taken over parts of the bed spreading their prolific growth into the evergreen bushes and even winding their way across the large rocks, growing in spaces alongside the pond.



"The wisteria needing trimming back..."

I sighed. “This is not going to be an easy or short day working in this bed,” I exclaimed. “How did this wisteria get so out of control? What are these wild vines growing everywhere too?” I wondered to myself. With all the rain and several months of neglect though, I knew the answer to my question as I dragged more barrels to the back... It turned into an all-day project to restore the large waterfall bed and garden to a place of order and beauty.


I wondered about the spiritual parallels from this truth when a friend said this would be another life lesson for my next blog...


How often do we allow weeds or entanglements to grow in our lives when we fail to prune and pay attention to the garden of our heart? Slowly, but surely the wild vines of bad attitudes, anger, or bitterness can creep in and overrun our lives if we’re not careful. We need to keep short accounts with others and with God too.


"Like a gardener, God wants to help us weed our hearts and lives..."

Sometimes, even good things, like good activities can overtake our lives. Like the beautiful wisteria vine that had produced beauty, now it had invaded the waterfall bed and beyond. The same can happen in our lives if we’re not careful. Maybe, we need to prune back from all the busyness and return to some simplicity. Instead of saying yes to all the demands, activities, and opportunities, we need to be wise and cut away some commitments that may have entangled us in overcommitment, exhaustion, and just pure busyness.


Whether it’s unwanted wild vines or beautiful flowering vines we must pay close attention to our gardens and the garden of our hearts and lives. We need to let God prune and detach our lives from anything displeasing or even entanglements He wants to eliminate.

 

Beloved:

 

Do you know that your heart is like a garden and whatever you plant there or allow, it will flourish? Even through neglect, your heart can grow unwanted vines of fear, bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, and resentment. Instead, come to Me. Read My Word and allow My Spirit to pluck up any unwanted and unhealthy emotions, attitudes, and thought patterns. In addition, it is easy to get entangled in the things of this world and in this life. You cannot do everything and it’s easy for you to get overcommitted and exhausted. Draw near to Me and let me guide you and help you know when to say yes and when to say no. I want your life to be a beautiful and prolific garden that reflects My heart and nature to all you encounter. Let us do this work together My beloved.

 

“You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you.” (John 15:3)


“Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2)


"Your heart and life is His beautiful garden..."


1 commento


snclifton
15 giu

Another winner!!!

Mi piace
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