My husband likes to pull out the weeds in our lawn, and a few days ago, I decided for the first time 😬, to help him. I am sure I had a chance to do this growing up. I had forgotten how fun and satisfying it is, especially when you’re able to pull them out from the roots. One of my kids mentioned that it’s like pulling out daddy’s white hair 😂. It was a good use of my time during quarantine. Nice opportunity to be out in the sun. Good bonding activity with the hubby and kids. Good source of inspiration as well.
I actually learned something from it! There are different kinds of weeds invading our frog grass, the majority of which is one particular kind (judging only from appearance of course, I am no expert). I found that some were easy for me to pull from the roots, while others were pretty hard. Some were also pretty obvious because of their height and size, but there were many that blended right in with the grass especially when wet. You would notice them only when they’re dry and up close.
Weeds are not healthy for our lawns or gardens. They compete for the nutrients and the water that are meant for our grass and plants. Much like some of our habits, our attitudes, our life choices, our beliefs. They take up space in our life that push God out of our hearts. They compete with our time and devotion to God. Some of them are so noticeable that others make us aware (whether intentionally or unintentionally) of them, and we ourselves desire to change them. There are those we are able to easily pull, so to speak, out of our lives. Sometimes effortlessly. Why? Because the roots aren’t deep. The roots are young and shallow. Maybe that habit or attitude or choice or belief doesn’t have much of a hold on us. Maybe a meaningless thing that was quickly picked up, one that could also quickly be given up. Maybe removing it from our life does not cause much pain or discomfort.
Then there are those that we are able to get rid off only superficially. In terms of weeds, you successfully pull out the blades above ground, but leave the root intact. Its root has gone so deep that simply pulling it out does not work. It requires much more time and effort, and pain, to remove. (Some roots have thorns. And I pulled so many weeds that my fingers were already sore and greenish in color. In frustration, I honestly just left those I could not pull from the roots. I stopped caring after a while and just moved on to the next ones. 😬) So from the outside, it may seem like the bad habits or attitudes, former choices, or old beliefs have been removed from your life, but really, it’s only the appearance, perhaps the behavior or words, that has changed. The root of the issue is still intact and could rear its ugly head anytime it is triggered. The root is still deep, its hold still strong, that whatever progress you make is eradicated when you are tested. The “weeds” continue to grow, while your own growth is stunted. Or worse, the “weeds” choke out everything that is growing in you. Not only do you stop growing, you go backward, regress, backslide.
It’s funny that as lazy and indifferent as I was to work on the roots left in the soil, my husband took a spoon from our kitchen to dig out the roots. That determination, the willingness to put in the work, that belief that freedom from weeds is possible, the humility to recognize that he cannot do it on his own are the very things needed to get to the root. Now let’s be honest. We are human and we live in a broken world. There will always be a battle against our own undesirable attitudes and habits, and we will constantly need readjustments in our choices and beliefs. But how should we respond? Like me, who cared for a while but then gave up on those that were just too hard to deal with? Who settled to just let the “weeds” keep growing? Or like King, who put in the time and effort, and upon realizing that he could not rely on his own will and strength, got help? Who cared enough to keep his “lawn” healthy?
In this time of Corona, this season of ECQ, weeding is a worthwhile pursuit. Let’s take a good look at ourselves, with humility and honesty. What are these things that we do, these activities we participate in, these ideas and people we allow ourselves to be influenced by, these emotions we allow to take over, these words we speak to ourselves, these beliefs we have embraced — what are these that take precedence over things that God has called us to be and do? What are these that, if we are not mindful, slowly push God out of our families, our decision-making, our parenting, our work and finances, our government and business dealings, our relationships, even our ministry? Let’s ask the Lord to expose our weeds, and let’s enlist the help of trustworthy people that God has sent us, to walk with us and help us through the weeding process. We can’t do it alone. We can’t do it just once. This is a life long process of surrendering to the Lord, dying to ourselves, to keep Jesus enthroned in our hearts.
That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules[c] of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:9-16
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