Flower Power

I ❤ Spring, and I ❤ gardening metaphors.

I shared the somewhat cheesy quote below on Facebook, a repost from this day in 2016.  For whatever reason, I woke up early this morning and laid in bed thinking about this truth for at least 30 minutes.  And I felt encouraged and hopeful.

My mind has been in a darker place more often than not lately.  I'm dealing with a lot of sadness, resentment, and confusion that quickly leads me down the spiral toward hopelessness and questioning my purpose and the point of everything.  It all feels connected, and it's hard to see clearly when you feel overwhelmed and consumed by those depressing thoughts.

The imagery of those darker thoughts being tall weeds that have sprung up to cloud my view and choke out the life of the many beautiful thoughts and wonderful things that ARE already present and filled with purpose in my heart and life... that picture is incredibly helpful and clarifying for me.

Rather than trying to ignore them or push them aside or drown them out with Netflix and ice cream, it's important that I actually deal with the weeds and the bad trees one by one and work to pull them out by the roots.  I feel pretty confident that therapy and prayer will help me with that process.  But it's also important for me to remember right now today that those "weeds" don't define me - that they are temporary and are not the truest thing about me - that the enemy is involved and trying to kick me while I'm down - that there is real beauty and goodness present inside me - and that it's worth doing the work to protect the existing flowers and to keep planting new ones... new good and healthy thoughts that will bear good fruit.

I've made a very specific list of things I want to work on in therapy.  My main categories boil down to family, friendships, health, church, and my future path... so yeah, that covers just about everything. lol  And when I think about that list, once again, it really helps me to remember that in every one of those categories, there is already deep beauty and color and goodness present.  There is much to be thankful for... and since those things have become a bit obscured by the weeds, it's worth fighting to remove them.  God desires truth in our inmost being, and I desire that healing and wholeness too.  Metaphorically speaking, I want my heart and mind to be a garden brimming over with beauty and color and life!  And I'm going to press into that desire.

I know this will all seem super cheesy to some of you, and I'll grant you that it's a cliché line of thought.  But it's been intense and meaningful for me in this season.  When things feel dark, it's so refreshing to remind ourselves of truth -- "Let there be light."  And then to separate that light from the darkness... to remind ourselves that we have an enemy fighting against us, but our God is good, and there is no darkness in Him. ❤

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord, and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I shall rise. 
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light!"
~Micah 7:8

Sarah and I were talking yesterday, and we realized that I'd never posted the pics from all their front yard work around this time last year.  So I also posted those yesterday, and I love that they go right along with this entire line of thought....  Pulling out the weeds and the old stuff to make room for the new.  Picking out the best plants and trees for your space.  Adding new seeds and trusting that they will take root and grow over time.  Yes to all of that!

Okay, that's all I've got for you today.  I hope it made sense and was encouraging!