Our Garden

Today we went out into our garden to harvest our crop of vegetables.  The kids had a blast picking the vegetables.  They were so impressed that we got 4 bowls full of carrots, peppers, a little corn, a few tomatoes, 4 (little) heads of cabbage, and onions.  We, on the other hand, were a bit underwhelmed.

With the amount that we spent on the starter plants, we did not reap a very good return.  With the amount of time that we spent caring for the garden, we reaped more than we deserved.  We did a poor job watering regularly.  We rarely would spend the time keeping the weeds out of it.  No pruning took place.  I'm sure that the birds took more than we harvested.  We will admit that we are lazy gardeners.

Is this a picture of your marriage?  Sure, you said the vows and have attempted to join together as one.  But have you done the maintenance work?  Have you spent time applying the Water of Life to your marriage?  Have you got down on your knees to remove the weeds that would seek to choke out your fruit?  Have you trimmed out the unnecessary and unwanted growths that would deplete your marriage of a bountiful harvest?

If not, the good news is that it's not too late.  Unlike our pitiful garden, marriages are not based on four seasons of planting, growth, harvest, and rest.  Marriages do have seasons but, fortunately, you can reap a harvest in one area while planting in another.  You can rest in one while growing in another.

And unlike our garden, which is experiencing the end of a mediocre season of growth, your marriage is still primed and ready to be a success.  Even if it seems like it is done and there is no hope for growth or success, it's not really over.  If you are serious about doing the work, the rewards will come.  If you will commit to getting your hands dirty, you can reap the fruit of your sweat and tears.  It's never too late.  Even if a divorce has occurred, it's still not too late.  When God sees diligence on your part, He is willing to step in and do what only He can do...BRING LIFE!!

Thank God for His mercy that our marriage does not look like our garden.  Our garden is an extra-curricular activity that we enjoy the idea of even if we don't enjoy the work.  Our marriage, however, is where the Lord has planted us and we will work the soil of it until we die so that we can seek to reap a harvest glorifying to Him.

But, we are not safe or secure in where we are.  If we become lax in our marital diligence, we will quickly find ourselves in a marriage that is dry and full of weeds.  And that thought keeps us on our knees and our hands dirty with the work of marriage.

Josh and Serena

 2011 Abdelaziz Garden