I got a late start on my garden this year. You might say five years late. That’s about how long it’s been since I gave up working hard because of my back. But now, something new is happening. After years of trying different therapies and medications, I found some hope.
The tubers I ordered from the Swan Island Dahlia farm were arriving soon so I had to get to work.
It took a couple weeks for me to clear out a small patch of weeds in the spring. for the off chance I might manage to maintain a few plants over the summer, now dahlias growing. Yay!
This small success lifted my outlook and helped me get a little stronger, which motivated me to tackle the entire flower bed. Then there were a neighbor’s leftover starts to adopt, stretching myself even further.
Today’s photo is of a sprig from a bean plant reaching for the sun.
Here’s a closer shot. See it there, crawling up the wire? In today’s Verse of the Day, which I receive in my email, we are admonished to assess ourselves reasonably. The little bean seed wasn’t aware that the result of its struggling and reaching would lead to feeding a couple of hungry humans. It’s just doing what God designed it to do (and what I’m trying to help it accomplish).
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
Romans 12:3 ESV
And also today, I realize that what started with what I thought might be my last visit to the dahlia farm last Fall (driving was excruciating) and potentially wasting money by buying five dahlia tubers that I might not be able to maintain, was an expression of hope and faith. In taking that step, I believed I might reach a new level of strength and productivity and have beautiful flowers to share.
It’s okay to reach, to struggle, to try. And then rest and reach again. But if there’s concern we might start thinking of ourselves “more highly” than we ought, let’s visit the scriptures more frequently. That should help us keep things in proper perspective.
This month my goal is publishing a blog post every weekday from the Verse of the Day. Think I’ll succeed? I’m flexing my muscles and getting ready. I’m sure there will be blessings in the pondering of God’s words.
Here’s where you can sign up to receive the Verse of the Day from Bible Gateway.
