What’s Growing in Your Garden?

Spring is here! With that comes the rain, the thunderstorms, the growing grass, the budding trees and bloomin’ flowers…and ah, yes, the planting of the garden! What will you grow in your garden this year? I’m trying to grow a little more love and compassion. I’m also trying to grow patience. And come on now, we ALL need more of that! What else? Let’s see… self-control would be good to grow this year.

In Galatians chapter five, the Apostle Paul gives many references as to what we should be growing. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It isn’t mentioned, but a bit of compassion and mercy wouldn’t hurt some of us, too. Forgiveness is good. Grace is fantastic! And there is always hope.

There are many people though, who grow bitterness, un-forgiveness, anger, jealousy, grudges, gossip, lust, greed, and a whole host of other, not-so-nice things. These are the things that breed more unpleasant attitudes and personalities. One thing will lead to another, and before long you have a garden of ugly weeds and an attitude to match it. I’m sure you have heard the saying, “Bitterness breeds contempt.” Have you ever wondered how people get such negativity in their lives? Where does it come from? Let me explain it this way; it is planted in them.

Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. ~Galatians 6:7

We have the power, with just our words even, to plant either good things or bad things. We need to sow seeds of love, seeds of hope, seeds of grace and mercy and compassion. Yet there are those who, in the name of Jesus, sow seeds of calamity, hate, bitterness, and contempt. They use the name of Jesus to promote their poison, but one day they will have to reap what they have sown.

I want the best in my garden. That is why I do my level best to sow the fruitful seeds from Galatians 5:22-23. My weed killer is the Word (Bible), and my Gardener is the Holy Spirit who helps me in my garden. Whenever a weed starts to take root, He lets me know and we go together and get rid of it.

I hope your garden grows beautiful things in 2013. Mine is coming along nicely. A few weeds here and there, and a serpent or two, but they’ve been taken care of and the tender shoots of spiritual fruit are taking form and growing. Now about my vegetable garden… well, that’s an entirely different story!

Shelley Wilburn

Shelley Wilburn has been writing since the age of twelve. She loves stories and adventures, and often finds herself getting into mischief with any one of her six grandchildren. She has written several articles and devotionals over the years for various newspapers, women's magazines, and newsletters. She has also co-authored devotionals. Shelley began writing full-time in 2012 after being healed of over 40 years of depression and anxiety. Using her love of writing, and wearing mismatched socks, Shelley has developed a unique ministry of encouraging others using biblical truths and stories from her own personal life. When not writing, you can find Shelley and her husband of over 30 years, D.A. zipping down the road in their newest adventure-maker, a bright orange, Mustang convertible Shelley has laughingly dubbed The Pony.