It finally feels like winter is over. The past couple weeks have been spent in planting things both in the yards and in pots on the deck and front walk. Pine straw has been bought and spread out. Shrubs and hedges trimmed. Now, we’re at a point where we can take a break, sit on the deck, and enjoy the songbirds in the woods and those coming to the feeders in the yard. We can enjoy the colors and greenery of the new plants and of the trees and blooms of returning foliage. It’s like a rebirth of our little corner of the world.
Living close to the McDonough Square, it’s exciting to see the colors of the geraniums being planted, the gorgeous flower pots on the streets and window boxes, and all the activities happening. New stores are opening and there is an air of excitement about the summer festivals, movies, music, food, not only in McDonough, but in all of Henry County. Kids and teachers are excited about school being out, the ballparks are full of sports that anyone can just drop in to watch and meet new people, and churches are planning all manner of things for the community.
Just because I’ve planted the plants, spread the straw, and a little fertilizer spread doesn’t mean I’m done for the season. These need to be watered a little more regularly and faithfully, with a little more fertilizer after several weeks and pulling the weeds that will inevitably crop up around them. My personal wish is that all yards were self-sustaining. Why can’t someone invent a Roomba-type thing that cuts and edges the yard, weeds the flower beds, trims and bags the shrubs, and waters as it goes. That would be my ideal yard. It would also be my ideal life if some little robot-thing followed me around taking care of my messes before anyone knew or any problems occurred. Unfortunately, this isn’t my perfect world. Yet.
Spring. Summer. Rebirth. Renewal. Just a couple weeks ago, it was Easter and we all thought about the resurrection of Jesus. He had been dead for three days and then came back to life for us to have Hope for an eternity of life in Heaven. Forever. A fresh start. Rebirth.
However, as you well know, we can never fully live up to the standards God has put into place for us. We aren’t perfect and will never be. But anytime we mess up, all we have to do is admit it and ask for forgiveness and it is given. No questions asked, His forgiveness covers us totally, and is as if we never messed up. As the Psalmist wrote in 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Renewal.
Like the maintenance of my yard, we need to maintain our lives. Just as the plants come with instructions on the care of the plants, our lives come with an instruction manual. It’s called the Bible. The more we read our instructions, given from God, our Master Gardener, the better we will understand what is expected. Basically, the main points are to “Love God, love each other, tell others about Him.” Simple. If we all treated others like this, I firmly believe our world would not be in the state of turmoil it is now. If we just live this in our own city and county, we would have a better and safer place to call home.
It’s not so hard once you get the ego out of the way. Love God, Love others, and treat others out of that Love. And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.
