Renewing
To those still with me after this past week, thank you. I’m truly sorry if I discouraged anyone, and I’m grateful for the thoughtful comments. Life is challenging enough without spending energy on peripheral conflicts.
I feel like I’ve kicked a wasp’s nest, and there’s no undoing it. Normally, I really dislike conflict. It makes me very uncomfortable. I’ve been sleep deprived this week. (Never post something big when you’ve been staying up late researching homeschool curriculum – or staying up late cleaning up sick kid messes – or staying up late doing anything.)
I also think this issue served as a scapegoat for worries that are more personal.
But God can use all things to turn us to him.
When we first moved here, there were so many things to do that some chores fell off the priority list… like watering my philodendron. I decided to let it die, and I left it in a storage area for at least six months.
A few days ago, I wanted the planter pot for something else, and when I went to get it, this is what I found:
After all that time, I cannot figure out how this “dead” plant had energy to put out a new leaf!
I let the ivy keep its container, watered it, added fertilizer, and cleared away the dead leaves.
I want to believe that I’ll make it through long, dry stretches, when survival means I don’t always get to church on Sunday, and I don’t always read my Bible. Will God still find any signs of growth?
Over the next couple months, I’d like to memorize Philippians – renewing my mind, washing it with the water of the Word.
In the end, the thing that will matter is how deeply I dug my roots in to God. Everything else should fall into place from the roots… right?
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever he does prospers.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
…..Right!!! 🙂 I love you, Debbie! It took a lot of courage to post what you did, and I admire you for it. It’s good for each of us to struggle through these important issues….and to do it with an attitude of humility as you sure seem to be.
I love you, Debbie! My silence is not judgement on your thoughts, only allowing you to process. God is big enough to handle our sincere questions and redeem the mess called life. Sometimes we need a wasp nest to rouse us out of lethargy anyway! I do at least 😉
Thank you for these comments! Don’t worry about me interpreting anyone’s silence in any way. I was just concerned about discouraging anyone who might hold different views from mine. There’s definitely a reason I was never in Debate in school. I’d be too worried about hurting someone’s feelings! 🙂
I like reading your thoughts, whatever they may be. You didn’t sound negative or judgmental to me. I also like the idea of memorizing Philippians, too!