It’s time. It’s time to weed the flower beds. I figure it’s a great spring event, and also helped to keep me moving. However, my back hurt, hamstrings hurt, and bending over on my head was not helping much either. My five year old daughter was trying to help me, and was enjoying moving the dirt from one side of the flower bed to the other. She squealed in fear of spiders, and any other creepy crawly thing, except for the little black bugs that roll up into balls. She tried throwing the worms away, and wanted to squish the spiders. I explained to her that of all things in our garden her black bugs were probably the worst for it. I picked up a big, fat worm in my hand (with a glove on, of course), and told her that they were actually really good for our soil. I put the worm down, and then pointed to a really homely spider. I explained that spiders eat the bugs that are in the garden, such as her favorite black bugs. Every living thing has a purpose. Every living thing has worth!
Thinking back the last ten years or so, I can definitely correlate the many weeds bogging down the flower bed, to the many things that were bogging down my spirituality. I didn’t always make the best choices, based on my beliefs and what I was taught. Eventually I knew that I needed to re-evaluate my life. The music I listened to, my food and drink, the people I associated with, etc. I needed to surround myself with uplifting and positive people. I needed to find people that shared my beliefs, or at least respected them, to where they wouldn’t pressure me into making poor choices.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t just drop them cold turkey. It was hard! Some of these people I had to really take a look at. Some of them were pretty upstanding citizens. Those are ones that I was able to stay in “contact” with, through social media or texts, etc. I no longer go out with them or go to their houses. But, they were the ones that respected my choice to go back to living a life that I felt the Lord would approve of. In our church we are asked to stay away from strong drink and coffee, inappropriate talk and films. The other people kind of teased me and said a few hurtful and negative things, when I was only trying to be honest with them. I could have dropped them cold turkey, and maybe I should have. But I chose to show them respect and explain where I felt I needed to be at that point in my life. Either way, I feel good about my decision. It’s a constant work in progress.
All in all, I feel so much stronger, and though I try to improve myself each day, it doesn’t always go as planned. I have “weeded” out most of my acquaintances and friends, as well as my movie and music collection. I made the choice a while ago to no longer partake of strong drinks, and coffee. For me, I am doing my best to keep my life in order by making wholesome choices, and raising my daughter to do the same. I am being the best example I can be for my daughter. I teach her basic principles, and she learns them at church as well. I love learning and teaching my daughter the things I am re-learning. For me, it makes things go a little bit smoother at home.
Finding My Way Back- If you’d like to read more of Maya’s articles, click here.
Routinely evaluate and separate what may be holding you back from the best possible you. I’m still tweaking my routine to accommodate my crazy schedule. But what I have to remember is when I put the Lord first the rest should follow. I try so hard to be the best mother I can be to my daughter. Mistakes have been made in the past, and I am more aware of my choices than I was before. Pray to Him often, He’s always listening. I love Him, and the blessings he gives me each day.
