Three Lessons From My Backyard To Strengthen The Soul

We have made our backyard a place to rest, to entertain and to observe the flora and fauna around us.  I often post photos of my seasonally changing flowers. Throughout the spring and summer comes an array of colorful bushes and variety of perennials.  I add a few planters and a small garden of annuals for a quicker show of color.  I have no control over the birds, bugs and animals that wander through but I enjoy their presence (until they eat my plants).  As I observe my backyard throughout the year I see many valuable life lessons.

LESSONS FROM VERY SMALL THINGS

I remember as a child my father told me to watch an anthill as he placed a small piece of dry grass over it.   Soon enough the ant construction crew came up to remove the “log” blocking their entrance.  God created them to work together. If we as human beings could work together for the common good then the world would be a better place.

Proverbs 6:6–8 (ESV)    Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

A parable of “ants in a jar” attributed to David Attenborogh has been circulating for a few years.  In short, the premise is if you put 100 red fire ants and 100 black ants in a jar they all get along. However if someone shakes the jar and then dumps them out they become disoriented and start fighting.  The problem started when the jar was shaken. This analogy has been applied to America today being violently shaken by media and agendas of all kinds.  Children don’t care about skin color, politics or religion as long as you play nicely. We are called to have radical  faith not live reactionary to the world.

Pastor Chuck Allen of Sugar Hill Church, GA shared in his June 2021 blog.

  “Jesus instigated and directed that we first love, then forgive, then love even more. And if we, who claim to be Followers of Jesus are spending more time shaking jars or griping about who shakes the jar, we missed the whole point, didn’t we? Maybe we are spending our time listening to and watching the jar shakers to the point that we don’t recognize the commonalities of all us like ants in the jar anymore?

We are all ants, living in a globe-shaped jar. Stop giving the jar shakers a voice. Give your head and heart to serving the fellow ants in the jar with grace, dignity, kindness, and good old-fashioned love. I think we’ll live in a far better jar.”

LESSONS FROM MY GARDEN

Planting a garden of any kind requires some work.  Digging and getting dirty, planting and patience, watering and weeding but the end result is enjoyable and satisfying.  My rose bush has huge thorns but also has the most beautiful fragrance. God told us there would be hard times as well as good. Why are we surprised when the thorns and weeds come along? God can use the hard times to bring out the best in us.  The Parable of the Sower  (Matthew 13) the soil is a lesson about our hearts’ response to God’s word.  He challenges us to be diligent in tending to our hearts lest they become hardened.

Matthew 13:18–23 (MSG)    “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.“The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.  “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.  “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”

A LESSON FROM THE DEER

We planted new grass where several old bushes had been removed.  Of course the deer just happened to walk there.  A friend pointed out that it has been so hot lately that they probably came to enjoy the sprinklers.   The deer search for food ( in your garden) or cool refreshing water to satisfy their needs. How often do I get so busy that I forget to take a big drink from God’s word to satisfy my dry soul?  

Psalm 42:1–2 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

I will be shaken by social meda and the world around me if I do not maintain a biblical perspective.  The thorns and weeds of subtle lies and complacency will choke out gratitude and joy.  I must drink of His Living Water to satisfy my soul. 

Dear Friends,   Take time to relax and enjoy your yard this summer. Look. Listen. Feel.  What lessons can you learn from the beauty and wonder of nature that God has provided.