The weed man could have had a full-time job at my house. My well-established azalea bushes were gorgeous. They always are. The only difference this year was I could not pull the weeds. I have myasthenia gravis and it makes me too weak to pull weeds. My husband was away, so I just had to live with them.
Philippians 4:11, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” NIV
DWELL ON THESE THINGS
Everyone has weeds in their lives. Every relationship, every job, every yard has them. Weeds are inevitable. For some they spoil the beauty. Not me, I intentionally choose to accept the weeds and focus instead on the blooms.
Philippians 4:8, “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable- if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise-dwell on these things.” HCSB
PULL THE WEEDS
I am not ignoring the weeds. They are obvious and I see them. I know they are there and honestly I wish they were gone. But I refuse to let them detract from the beauty I see. Do you have weeds in your life? Of course, we all do. If you are able to pull them, then by all means get on your gardening gloves and do so. But if you cannot, then look at the blooms and rejoice.
Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” NIV
BLOCKING THE LIGHT
Did you know something as small as a dime can block out the light of the sun? It does so only if held immediately in front of the eye. Negative aspects of our lives held right in front of our eyes can block out the light too. It is a choice whether to focus on the beauty or focus on the weeds.Likely we have more beauty in our lives than weeds, but sometimes that is all we can see.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can. And wisdom to know the difference. Excerpted from Reinhold Niebuhr
RECIPE FOR HAPPINESS
Recently I was introduced as a woman with an incurable illness who has overcome adversity in her life. Really? I thought I was blessed beyond measure!
I've found the recipe for being happy (The Message) #rtp #contentment Click To TweetPhilippians 4:12,13 “Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with a little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it though anything in the One who makes me who I am.” MSG
I believe the secret of contentment is WEEDS. Accept what you cannot change. If you cannot pull or poison your weeds, accept them and look at the blooms instead. It will make you a lot happier.
Feel free to share this with someone you know who needs encouragement to focus on their blessings.
That is so you we are blessed with contentment it is a gift from God
Sometimes I need glasses that see through weeds. Thanks for letting me borrow yours. 😉
Are they not “cleavers”? Tea made from them is a great diuretic. I’ll come and get some, okay?
Well I don’t know. Come on
What comes to mind is that we all have a “Purpose Driven Life”. Thank you for continuing to share the Word!! Love you, Vickie!
God definitely has a purpose, for both of us. Love you
Love your sense of finding beauty and worth in everything…..just love you!
Thank you dear lady
Vickie, I’ve been reading your posts and do like them. We moved to north Alabama near Huntsville a few years ago. I do try to keep up some with things in Russellville. My Aunt Martha Newton told me about your diagnosis. This post really speaks to me since I can’t do all I once could in the yard. Thank you for sharing your faith. God bless you, Lynn
Thanks, God bless you
I am just now getting around to reading this. I needed to hear what you had to say. I really struggle with contentment, or the lack thereof. By the way, I just bought some new gardening gloves yesterday…so if you ever grow tired of the weeds let me know. Keep writing, people are listening.
I will, I will. Thanks
I have always struggled with the ‘physical’ weeds around this time of year. They ruined my joy. As long as I could pull them out….I was content. But after my many back surgeries I no longer could. Then had to depend on my husband. And he couldn’t always do it when ‘I’ wanted it done. I won’t say I’ve learned contentment but it’s becoming easier to understand that there are far more better (& worse) things to focus on than a few weeds.
I hate depending on others, but it’s taught me a lot