Trying to grow a garden is a battle of me against nature. First off, it’s a challenge getting the seeds to sprout … as the chipmunks, squirrels, and birds keep digging up the seeds and eating them!
If the seeds do survive and are actually able to sprout … then it’s the slugs who feast on the seedlings, eating them away to nothing.
This year I decided to start my sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds indoors. These are the seeds which are always gobbled up the worst each year before having a chance to sprout.
The seeds sprouted beautifully in less than a week. Yay!
In the rare sunny warm days of last week, the sunflower seedlings grew and stretched tall. Some were so tall they began falling over. It was time to move them out to the garden.
But … in wary caution of the slugs, I didn’t plant all of my little sunflower sprouts. I only planted 9 little seedlings.
I was anxious as I waited till the next day to see if my sunflower seedlings would survive their first day out in the garden.
Alas … the tallest, most promising sunflower seedling was completely gone. Totally eaten away. And two other seedlings had been chewed back to almost nothing.
As I stood there remorsefully in the garden, staring at the damage … this verse popped into my mind: “Give thanks in all things.”
My immediate “blink” reaction was: It’s true – there are lots of things to give thanks for.
I’m thankful for this little patch of earth where I can have a garden. For many years hubby and I lived in apartments, a condo, and homes where there was no space to have a garden. This little patch of earth is a blessing. And for that I am thankful!
Furthermore, I’m thankful the slugs only devoured 3 of the 9 that I had planted. There are still some sunflower seedlings left.
And … I’m thankful I left some margin and didn’t plant all of the seedlings at the same time. I still have all these sunflower seedlings left.
I’ll keep planting my sunflower seedlings, bit by bit. Because I left some margin.
The same thing is true with the beans. I left some margin – because I knew it would be a battle against nature. About half of my bean seeds sprouted; the other half of the seeds were gobbled up by chipmunks or squirrels.
And of the bean seeds which did sprout … the slugs are already nibbling on the starter leaves.
But I left some margin. I didn’t plant all the bean seeds. I saved some, because I knew I would be re-planting.
Isn’t this how life is! It feels like no matter how hard we try to “grow a garden” (so to speak) in our life, it’s a battle all the way. We work hard to try to “plant seeds” … and others come along and “gobble up” the “seeds” we just planted. This could be our ideas being squashed and dismissed at work. This could be our hopes and dreams “rained on” by others in our life. It looks like something different for each one of us.
And if our “seeds” do survive … and if our “seeds” are able to sprout and actually start growing into something beautiful … other people come along and “devour” it. This could be coworkers stealing our hard work so they can personally take credit and benefit from it themselves. It looks like something different for each one of us.
It’s hard to “grow a garden” in our life. To “plant seeds” of hard work and goodness and kindness so that we can have a beautiful flourishing life. Then to have others come along and “eat up” our “seeds.” Or … if our “seeds” do sprout, others “devour” any good thing which is growing in our life.
Just like I stood remorsefully in my garden, lamenting my seedlings which were gobbled up … so also, when it comes to our own life, we too stand there remorsefully when all our hard work is gobbled up by those who lie, cheat, and steal.
And God speaks to us deep in our soul: “Give thanks in all things.” … and … “Leave some margin.”
It’s true – there are lots of things to be thankful for. It’s hard sometimes to realize this. But thankfulness keeps our heart from getting bitter. Thankfulness anchors our soul to God, who is over everything … even this.
And … leave some margin.
Leave some margin in life. Don’t live life on the very edge. Leave some margin in our finances … for when the unexpected arises. Leave some margin in our time … for when the unexpected comes up. Leave some margin in our schedule.
Life is a battle. Trying to “grow a beautiful garden” of our life will be a battle. Our “seeds” will be eaten. Our “seedlings” will be devoured. But … God will save some! And God will be faithful to make our garden beautiful!
Through it all … Give thanks in all things … and leave some margin.
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
