Garden
“Remember that children, marriages, and flower gardens reflect the kind of care they get”.- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Despite my allergies, I loved helping my grandfather in his garden. He had such patience to dig, plant, and water. I wanted to see the results of our efforts- immediately, but that’s not how his garden worked. I wanted to eat the fruits of our labor, and I did- just not at that moment. Patience. I enjoyed all the fresh vegetables he planted each season. It took time. I loved watching them grow. I’m sure that’s how God looks at us. He watches us grow. He waters us. He prunes us and picks us. He cultivates our talents and gifts as we grow. We bloom in our own time. We are all a part of God’s garden.
Restoration
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
res·to·ra·tion
/ˌrestəˈrāSH(ə)n/
noun
the action of returning something to a former owner, place, or condition.
the return of a hereditary monarch to a throne, a head of state to government, or a regime to power.
Most of us can remember all the things we have lost in this life. For those of us who have experienced tragedy, the list might be in the forefront of our minds. We reminisce. We remember, and sometimes we regret. Loss has a way of bringing up all sorts of emotions, but how do we feel when we experience restoration? How do we feel when the claim check is in the mail? How do we feel when we buy another house? How do we feel when we get a second chance to get right? God is a restorer. He is a God of restoration. For everything you have lost, you should have an expectation of God. God is a God of more than enough. There are countless stories of restoration in the bible. My favorite is Job, a strong second is Elijah and the widow. Take time to focus on God’s word and ask for restoration in your life. What do you need God to restore?
Work
It's funny how people don't really understand that anything worth having requires work. Success takes work. Friendships require work to maintain. Relationships require a lot of work. Marriage, degrees, anything that comes with a title takes work. Blood, sweat, and tears type work. "I put my all in" type work. "I gave it everything I have" type work. "I wake up early and go to bed late" type work. I just don't get it. I do get it, actually. Things you don't work for, you don't value. They are disposable. So, people and relationships become disposable when you don't work for it. Things of little value can be discarded without second thought. What do you value? Who do you value? The answer to both questions is what or whom did you work for?
Fellowship
As an only child, I always wanted to be around other kids. I wanted to go outside to play. I wanted company. I wanted sleep-overs. I wanted to be socialized. On the flip side, I enjoyed being alone. I enjoyed not having to share. I liked the solitude. I didn’t like that when things went wrong, there was no one to share the blame. I didn’t like that there wasn’t anyone to share the household responsibilities. Relationships balanced out my life. Friends taught me to share. My husband taught me how to be selfless. My kids taught me how to sacrifice. Relationships teach us how to love one another. Relationships teach us how to fellowship with God.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
Zenith
Every great story should include an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and a denouement. Our lives are the greatest story ever told. Most of us get caught up in the exposition, miss the climax, and before we know it...it's the end. The climax is the best part. It's the zenith. It's the high point. It's where all the good memories are made. Don't miss out on the zenith of your life. Seize the moment. Take a chance. Forgive. Forget. Love again. Your zenith is waiting....
Xenagogue
There was an exhibit called "Dialogue in the Dark." Blind guides lead visitors in small groups through different settings in absolute darkness. Some of the settings included a busy street, a restaurant, a grocery store and a park. The purpose was to raise awareness about what it means to navigate daily life being vision impaired. We had to rely on our guides and our other senses to explore each exhibit. Most of us navigate life in the darkness without a xenagogue. We don't have a plan, a road map, or a guide. We need help. We need guidance. We need a mentor. We need someone to help us navigate. We need someone to show us the way when we find ourselves lost, stuck, or just searching for answers. We need someone who has traveled the road we desire to travel. We need a xenagogue.
Beloved
Most of us just want to be loved. We want to feel like we matter to someone. We want to know that our presence means something to someone else. We want to know that when we leave, someone will miss us. Know that you are loved. You do matter. You are someone's beloved. There is someone who loves the sound of your laugh. There is someone who loves your smile. There is someone who loves just being in your presence. You are loved, beloved.