Saturday morning our family made a trip to Lowe’s. We had several home improvement and gardening supplies on the list. As we walked through the store, I had to stop. There in the garden center was a whole aisle of cactus.
Looking at those plants, I was transported back in time to our house in Bowling Green. It was there that I literally came in contact with my first cactus. The former owner of the home had planted a cactus right at the edge of the sidewalk, at a rather pivotal place, in such a way that one could easily graze it on passing by… Oh it was annoying… and painful. I can’t tell you how many times I found myself pulling the tiny spikes from my sock, or worse my foot. I know it brought curse words from my lips a time or two. Stupid cactus. urgh.
We tried removing it. Digging it up. But that’s hard. How do you go about pulling out a cactus that is so prickly without getting hurt? Its impossible I tell you. So, it shouldn’t suprise you that in the winter of probably 1996 there was much joy and jubilation when we found that the snowplow had actually run over it and dug it out of its smug little spot. And you could see little pieces of the cactus in the snow bank near the curb. Ahhh victory, at last. Or so we thought.
That spring, it was rejuvenated and grew back even bigger and stronger. I was jolted from my not-so-fond cactus memory by my son, standing there in the gardening center of Lowe’s. He was crying. Wailing. He wanted a “Cars” watering can. He wanted it now! I could have sworn we already dealt with this…
Meet our own contemporary version of the cactus. Greed. In this modern day society, my kids are tempted by consumerism just like the rest of us. Its ugly. I find it to be one of the most prickly and complicated, besetting sins to deal with in my own heart – and in my children’s. And at just the time I think I’ve eradicated it, there it is rearing its nasty head again!
Interesting that this happened on Thanksgiving weekend… a time when I wish my family would celebrate being thankful for all that God has given us. But, instead, I find old selfish desires, wanting the things I don’t have and don’t need, creeping up on me. I don’t know if its possible to get rid of this sin once and for all. But, I do know a way to combat it.
Psalm 100:
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.3 Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his [a] ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Its almost impossible to live a life filled with greediness and envy, if I’m consumed with giving Him thanks. Its not hard to get started – all I have to do is look around at all of the blessings in my life. And, I guess this is what Thanksgiving is all about. At our house we have plans to celebrate from now (on Canadian Thanksgiving) until American Thanksgiving in 6 weeks. Its the first attempt at uprooting that mean ol’ greedy cactus.
happy thanksgiving everyone!
(originally written October 11, 2010)
daily portion 
I like this one—-brings back memories of that annoying plant! I like the comparison you made. Mom