Life is like tending a flower garden. First you must have a good idea what you need before you go shopping for flowers and plants. Perennial flowers will grow back each year from roots that go hidden in the soil during winter while annuals will have to be replanted every year because they die in the winter.
In the Garden Centre annuals are called “bedding plants” and are sold in packs of six creating an instant garden with colorful flowers. Perennials on the other hand are sold individually. They are higher priced because they have a longer life span, but you will get value for your money.
Life is about relationships and it is important to know before you buy into any relationship whether it is going to be annual or perennial. Annual relationships do not survive the difficult periods in your life. They die at the end of their season and each year you must go shopping again. Not like the perennial relationship that survives the good times and the bad times because they are relentless.
My pet peeve in the times we are living in is listening to relationship rants after buyers go shopping in the Garden of Life. If you find yourself inclined to the colourful show like those found in the garden centre called bedding plants or annuals that are sold in packs of six at a cheap price – be forewarned the relationship will not survive the difficult periods in your life.
Psalm 144 1 says, “Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.”
Choosing God to be your counselor in selecting the perfect perennial flower or plant to place in your garden of love might sound boring and extremely unromantic but I can guarantee you He will be there season after season training you to fight your battles. He coaches you when unplanned events happen, and as you cruise through your Garden of Love every year it keeps on blooming.
Your life looks beautiful and others are attracted to what they see. When your challenges gets overwhelming Jesus steps in and clean up the soil that often times becomes infected from footsteps in the garden. You cannot keep the bugs from disturbing your soil, but you do what comes naturally – pray in the garden.
The conversations with Jesus in the garden get deeper and deeper and the moments are precious and reassuring. Your garden may not look like your neighbor’s garden – not colorful enough, not attention seeking enough, not bragging enough, not married enough, not regular enough, not whole enough but the truth of the matter is, you will be happy enough.
Do not be eager to make commitment to anyone who gives instant gratification it does not survive the tough times – you will have to go shopping again year after year. Make a commitment to hold yourself accountable to living securely in Jesus where anyone wanting a relationship status must first meet your Gardener.
Amazing Grace 