(a dahlia in my garden, just waiting to bust out in bright orange…)
It is springtime around here. For me, that means a bit of gardening. Well, it means planting and watering. Nurturing and hoping. some miracle grow, pulling a few weeds. And more waiting. and then hoping again.
My garden itself is small compared to my expectations. I have two rose bushes, four dahlia plants, some day lilies and irises along with two blueberry bushes. The blueberry bushes are off the hook because I just planted them, so I’m not hoping for anything this year. But, I’m looking forward to the day soon when I can look out my front windows and see a sprinkle of bright colors across the green.
I was concerned a few days ago about my rose bushes. There were buds that looked as though they had died, and I didn’t know what had happened. But, my father-in-law, truly a master gardener himself, came over and encouraged me. Nothing terrible had happened. What I was looking at were the remains of old blossoms. The good news was that on the very same bush there were a lot of tight-lipped buds, just waiting to burst open with color. All was well. I just needed to wait.
That was Saturday. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for those buds to loosen their grip and let out a flower, but really it is only Sunday evening.
I’ve been thinking about how my Heavenly Father may be viewing me, as a tiny part of His garden. And I wonder, what does God see when he looks down through the windows of Heaven on my heart’s garden.
Is He patiently waiting on some of my fruit to blossom? There’s a bloom or two of love and kindness. Are there a few buds of hope and joy? That looks like some peace about to come in. I know He planted seeds, hoping for patience, but there don’t seem to be any shoots breaking through the soil yet. There is no doubt He is working the ground of my heart, down deep; I feel the Holy Spirit digging out the weeds of sin that are choking the growth. There may even be old dead buds that aren’t bearing fruit anymore…
After all of this thought, this is what I’ve come to understand in a fresh way: It is true that I will never be perfect until Jesus returns, so, it is also true that just because I begin to see signs of His fruit of the spirit in my heart, it doesn’t mean the work is finished and that the fruit will always be there, full bodied, vital and growing.
The Heavenly Father, who is the Master Gardener of my heart, must continue to cause that Fruit to grow day in and day out. But I must spend time beside Him, pulling weeds of sin and watering my heart faithfully with the Word. This is the truth that I’ve come to understand recently. Just as I intend to work the little plot out in my front yard consistently all summer long, caring for the beauties I’ve planted, even so I must give the same gifts of effort and patience to my heart’s garden.
Here is what Paul says in Philippians 1:
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
My heart finds joy knowing that even though I am just a small piece of my Heavenly Father’s redemptive plan, He is more than interested. He is taking the time to care for me; watering, nurturing and waiting patiently for the first fruit of this season to burst forth in glorious colors… All made possible by the righteousness of Christ, All for the glory of God alone.
My heart is hopeful that it will happen soon. maybe even a blossom or two today.
(one of my rose bushes, trying to keep its hot pink secret just a bit longer…)
daily portion 