Gardens, Weeds, and Fresh Starts

I love gardening. I love watching things grow, especially in the spring time. I get all excited and always plant more garden than I can possibly handle. In March and April I can never seem to get through the check out line at Wal-Mart without buying a few more packs of seeds.Lynetta always laughs at me. She has seen this same ritual repeat itself now for the past 31 years. I always start out with big plans and dreams - then somehow about the middle of June - when the weeds start to take over - I start to lose my enthusiasm. By August God and I have grown some of the biggest weeds you have ever seen - but not much garden.But that's OK - Because in September I just go and rent a big Rototiller, grind it all up, and start all over - dreaming of next year.

Sadly this is not always possible with the rest of the big plans and dreams that I have. For example: Lynetta also laughs each time I start talking about losing weight and getting in shape. She always makes this big swooshing sound and says something like "I’ve heard this big wind blow before." It's not that she is not supportive; it's just a natural response that comes from having lived with me for so long.Like my loving wife I know from experience that no matter how enthusiastic and determined I am at the start - the weeds and the troubles and the hunger and the slow progress will weigh me down, discourage me, and finally over take me.But like my garden, there is always next year - or then again - maybe not.

I will turn 50 years old in October. Last week, because of recurrent chest pain, I had a Cardiac Catheterization Procedure done. (That is where the Doctor runs a big tube up through your femoral artery into you heart) And although there were no blockages I was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. I am a Cardiac Nurse by trade. I know all to well what this means. It means that without some significant lifestyle changes there may not be many more spring times to start over.

So I’m trying hard to become a better weed puller. This time I am determined to keep my garden and my arteries clean. It’s going to be a long dry summer.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.