Finding beauty in the midst of Chaos

This morning Ashley and I are in at the house waiting on another plumber to show up. They had no idea what time they would be here so we must spend the day at the house, but not inside of it. It is still not in a condition where Ash can enter. So we are finding things to do outside to occupy our time.

I looked around and the state of my flower beds caught my attention. If you were to drive by our house you would probably shake your head and wonder how and why they have become so negletected. You would see plenty of leaves left over from the fall, lots and lots of saw dust from the remodel, and weeds growing from every corner. In the middle of the gardens you find "Jedidiah" and "Goliath"(the two prized growing cabbages that somehow found themselves a home in a place I would not have chosen), but then as you approach our front porch you stumble across what inspired me. In the midst of all of the ugliness that has been left to develop over the past few months while I was away you discover what brought me great joy this morning. My favorite plants in my flower beds. There are five of them. All doing their best to grow up in the middle of this mess. My hostas have returned. Last spring they were planted among great beauty. Surrounded by flowers and other plants. Today they are surrounded by chaos,but their determination to bring beauty to this place made me smile.

As Ashley played in her pack n play I worked. She is having a great time. When she becomes tired of sitting she falls back and watches the birds. You can see her absorbing the sounds around her trying to figure out where they are coming from. I began to rake leaves, weed the beds, and prepare the soil. She continued to play, coo, and enjoy life. Some may wonder why I would bother preparing to plant in front of a house we don't even live in, but if you only knew what I knew. I can see something that those who drive by can not. I can see what the beds will become. I have been here before. I know that with a little bit of care it can and will be beautiful again. It won't happen overnight, but it will happen. In a few days with a lot of hard work the ground will once again become ready for me to plant the flowers that will bring beauty to the chaos. How nice it will be for the plumbers and contractors and painters to walk up the path to the front door surrounded by flowers as opposed to weeds, leaves, and saw dust. Just the thought of it brings me joy. I know if I were coming to work here that it would make me happier.

So today as Ash plays in the sunshine and listens to the birds in the canopy of trees above I am preparing the soil in our gardens. Just as the Father continues preparing the soil of our hearts. He sees things in us that others may not. He sees what can and will become with a little bit of work. It may not always happen overnight, but it happens. He continues weeding the parts that don't belong and before you know it nothing but joy and beauty blooms from within us. It makes me laugh how He speaks to me through nature. I think I am becoming old. I sure do enjoying working in the dirt and talking to Him.