Monday, April 19, 2010

The Garden Of My Heart

The other day I went out to weed my garden. As I walked past my apple orchard I asked the Lord to please let my life bear much fruit.

When I got out there I realized that there were more weeds than planted items. I was a bit discouraged. I began weeding close to the beans. All of a sudden my husband, Stacey, zipped by on the mower and did his "wolf" whistle at me; the kind of whistle that says, "I like the way you look!" I smiled and waved at him.
He shouted over at me that he'd be glad to help me by using the rototiller on the main paths around the plants. That meant that I'd only have to get the ones close to the plants. I smiled and thanked the Lord for this guy. I had to wonder how God lovingly thought to put two individuals together who grew up so differently. My husband can work circles around me. You see, he is not happy unless he is working.
Stacey grew up on a dairy farm. He got up every morning at 4:30 to milk cows; even on Christmas! Cows have to be milked twice a day, so again he'd be out there in the evening. His dad was a full blooded German, and his mother full blooded Lithuanian, both hard working people. Stacey had band practice, FFA, and 4-H in the afternoons.
I on the other hand, had the cushy life. I had some chores, but nothing like Stacey. I cooked dinner, did the laundry, cleaned the house, and I did some babysitting. I also, was the type who watched "Gilligan's Island," in the afternoon. I am chuckling just thinking about our first year together. Stacey didn't want to sit and watch sit-coms in the evening. He wanted the two of us to bike down to the university and get some coffee. He wanted to float the Willamette River in the summer evenings with a picnic lunch. He wanted to work in the garden and teach me how to grow things. I quickly started doing these things with him and have enjoyed being his wife so much.
Stacey works for a major corporation out of our home. He amazes me! This is typical, when he takes a break, he jumps on the mower, washes the car, prunes or sprays the orchard, or any number of things. He really has two jobs, his career job and the farm. That is why I say he can work circles around me. He gets so much done.
I often joke with him to be careful on his commute up the stairs to the office. He loves oatmeal with any kind of fruit on top. I am glad to bring this to him every morning.

This is Stacey during one of his breaks from the office job.
I also like to bring lunch to him while he's working. I am more than happy to do this for him because he does so much for me. These are the potatoes, chives, bell pepper, onion, and green beans from our garden.
This is how the weeds looked that evening. Stacey tilled them out for me. I'm so thankful. I often think of weeds and sin together. The Lord used many illustrations about this in the Bible. My heart is like a garden and it can become full of weeds. Weeds of pride, selfishness, and jealousy. I prayed while I was pulling those weeds from my garden and asked the Lord, to take away anything offensive in me.
I asked the Lord to please make it quick and swift; just pull them out, so that there would not be so many "weeds," (much sin) that He'd find it necessary to use a rototiller. Worst of all, I prayed that He would point out my sin to me so that it would not be necessary for me to be humbled in the process; I call this the "Round Up method" for removing weeds/ sin. If you have ever used Round Up on weeds you know that for weeks the ugly weed looks like the above picture. That is what sin looks like in my life when God has had to get my attention by humbling me, like the time I had a lot of pride in my life over home-schooling. I bombed in public. Oh the disgrace. God was faithful and loving to me though, and has forgiven me and helped me along. "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 1peter 5:5 A garden grows well when it is planted in good soil, watered, pruned, and weeded. Yes, there will be fruit!!!
I can believe God that He will help me to bear much fruit in my life. I want the fruit of the Spirit "...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" Galatians 5:22 I cannot possibly muster the will or have the strength on my own to possess this kind of fruit in my life. I need the power of God's Holy Spirit. "I CAN do all things through Christ, which strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13 "...take root below and bear fruit above." Isaiah 37:31 Jesus said: "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5
These verses give me hope that there will be fruit in my life.

19 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

Man! It sounds like you have quite the man there. What a beautiful tribute to him. And I of course loved your thoughts on fruit and weeds. It is hard to be humbled by God. I often think OOOH...when I pray for something because I know that my answers often come by way of humbling me and pointing out sin rather than just having the sinful desires miraculously taken away. I am humbled by your life on the farm...feling quite lazy over here~LOL! Hugs to you!

Paula said...

What a wonderful post, Kathi... it's so wonderful to have a husband who isn't afraid to work and work hard, isn't it? You are truly blessed!

Charlotte said...

What a wonderful post. Sounds like God gave you the perfect mate. I would say he did the same for your husband. Thank you for sharing this spiritual insight. I have a husband who is a worker too. All I have to do is mention something needs to be done and I know it will be done soon. Most of the time he sees things that need to be done before I do. Me, I tend to procrastinate - unless it is something that I really enjoy doing (like blogging).

Elena said...

This is a wonderful post, thanks for the great words of encouragement and scriptures!

Rose of Sharon said...

Wow Kathi what a great post! I love your tribute to Stacey! He is a very hard worker and a wonderful husband for you. It is neat how God put you two together. I know that you have grown to be such a Proverbs 31 wife for him! YOu know I was thinking as I was reading your post and looking at the pictures of the weeds. Before you kill them with Roundup, they are actually pretty.....they are green and thriving, but they are weeds trying to act and look like real plants that are productive. That is how sin is, it is hidden (the medical term for hidden is occult) in amongst our lives and we need to be careful to keep it out of our garden!

Great post!

Can't wait to see you Thursday honey!

:0) Sharon

Lori said...

Kathi;

I am a blog lurker. I enjoy yours very much, I see so we have things in common. Your post about your husband could have been written by me about mine. It blesses me to see others who have respect and honor for someone who is deserving. We are blessed wives by such great guys. I see your prayer in your thoughts on weeds. That too was a blessing. Thank you.

Unknown said...

Kathi,

This post rings so true for my life as well. Weeds.. Too many weeds in my garden at times as well. Need to do some rototilling and round up intervention!

I just got home from Salt Lake visiting Michelle, Denise and Mom, it was so much fun! Stay tuned on Myspace for the pics!

A Romantic Porch said...

Oh Kathi, You are so sweet. I loved this posting. Your home and farm is lovely. It is neat that your husband can take a break and help out. We work our business from our home also. Sometimes it is challenging. xorachel

christa jean said...

It is so amazing to watch the beautiful "fruit" tumble from our lives when we humble ourselves.
It is in the times that I ask forgiveness of my husband or children, when I see it most clearly.

God is so good to put husbands in our lives who see our potential and worth in God, and don't get hung up on our weaknesses. He uses these godly men to help us grow up in Him.

All it takes is a little surrender to his firm but loving pruning. Thank you for the great reminder to surrender.

Deb said...

Hi Kathi, thanks so much for this post, the scriptures were wonderful eye openers.

Jesus said: "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5

This was truly humbling and convicting and we all need that daily. Our Lord's word is perfect for weeding the garden's of our hearts.

Kelly said...

What great scripture Kathi, please know God uses you through your blog in many ways to minister! And your Husband is equally blessed to have you as you are to have him!

Love and ((HUGS))
kelly

Mrs. Fox said...

Lovely post, Kathi.

I meant to tell you The Belgariad is not difficult reading. It is a fantasy series so there is supernatural goings on but the characters are very real and by the end they feel like old friends.

cherished*vintage said...

What a blessing you two are to eachother!
-Karoline

Attic Clutter said...

Lovely family and garden farm post(:)I Love coming to see you at your pretty site..always something fun to see..
Hope you are having a great weekend (:)) Hugs, Patty

Gina said...

I think I love your husband (In a very "Thou shall not covet." and "Thou shall not commit adultry." sort of way)!

Jan Parrish said...

I love how you wove these two topics together. Amazing. I wondered how you got all that done!

Pearl said...

Simply Beautiful...

You're such an inspiration, Kathi... God bless...

~hugs~
Pearl

onlymehere said...

This is a wonderful tribute to Stacy and a beautiful analogy of the weeds to the scriptures. I hope everything is going well for you and your care of your MIL. I think of you and your kind heart often.

Kathi said...

I'm re-posting this story for those who have not read it yet.

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