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Digging In

Sitting outside on a warm night to get some moments of peace. I catch a whiff of a flavorful aroma. Garlic, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. How is my nose able to be so discerning? Well it’s the exact seasonings I dosed my plants in to deter the terrorist squirrels in my neighborhood. I’m sitting here thinking- there’s a lesson in there somewhere. 

I had such a hard night mothering today. Everyday I plant seeds of kindness, mercy, love, patience, self-control, but just one thoughtless act, then in turn, one thoughtless reaction seems to ruin all the effort I’ve put in. While lecturing I lost my cool, took away a privilege and said, “I will not have mercy.” It was totally thoughtless and I doubt I really meant it. Just like what those thoughtless squirrels did to my carefully packed flowerbed, I dug up and scattered those carefully sown seeds.

After my gracious husband took over the situation, I spent a long time reflecting over what happened. I reflected on what was said, how frustrated I felt, and I asked myself- what is our tomorrow going to look like? I decided, just like I did with these plants, I’m going to invest a little extra. I’m going to start afresh, say mommy’s very sorry for those incorrect words, and show mercy, tenderness and love on my little one. Just thinking about this gets me excited and re-encouraged. I know there will be a sweet aroma that blossoms out of this investment.

Can we stop and think about how God does the same with us? He invests in us over and over, giving us gifts and talents that we sometimes don’t deserve, or don’t appreciate. We dig away and disturb the seeds He plants in our lives, but being God- He is not deterred by it. He is always present and wants to continue to cultivate us. He never wavers in His love and investment in us. I can see, or rather can smell, God’s faithful stewardship.

It’s so encouraging to reflect on God like this and allow these thoughts to give me motivation and strength to continue cultivating seeds of God’s spirit in my little ones. I hope it encourages you too and helps shift your perspective on your toughest days. Maybe I’ll even show a little mercy to these squirrels... nah. 😆

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