My daughter loves flowers. When we go on walks, my children pick a fist full and place them in a cup filled with water. Now, most of these flowers are not the kind we want growing in our garden.
They are weeds. Weeds with colorful buds and blossoms.
As I was watching them, I realized the spiritual metaphor.
In life, there are things that seem pretty. They seem decent. There’s no real harm, right? Yet, when we stop to examine the effect of these things in our lives, we realize that they are choking out the more important things.
Maybe it’s television. Hey, you watch good, clean shows. You don’t rent rated R movies. Most of the things your children watch are educational, so, television is fine, right? Maybe not. If you’re sitting in front of the television when you should be tending to your home or your family, praying or reading your bible, or spending time leading others to Christ, then television is NOT a good thing, no matter what you watch.
I have noticed now and then God putting a little push in my life, a little nudge, to read or pray, but I say, “Hey, I’m busy. I’ll do it later,” but I never do. Or maybe I do, but the truth of it is, I haven’t done it when God prompted me to.
Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in writing my articles, answering emails, or reading blogs that I ignore my husband when he asks me to slip in bed with him. I’m reading good, clean things. Many of these blogs I read are Christian blogs that speak to my heart, but if I’m ignoring my family and my God, then they aren’t good for me.
It’s also a reminder to be a good steward of my time. Just because something looks pretty and seems okay, doesn’t mean it is. If we get involved in something (sports, special activities, shows, etc) that take us away from the things God has led us to do, then we are choking out the fruitful things in our lives. It’s important for me to be daily weeding my garden, to be aware of God’s prompting and to follow his direction immediately.
