Of Weeds and Vigilance

"I think I know why the weeds came back," she declared from the backseat as we drove along the country roads that lead us into town.  "Because the sign got crooked from the wind, and the rain made it so you can't see the words."  I didn't want to squelch her thoughtful invention or her belief that weeds would not only read her handmade "No Weeds Allowed" sign, but that they would also heed it.  So I agreed. 

She made the sign a few weeks ago after helping me rid the flower bed of the unwanted intruders that had tried to lay claim to the flower bed in front of our house.  And although she enjoyed our time together, my five-year-old does not enjoy repeating a task which has already been completed.  Thus, the sign.  It was all she could think of to do in order to ensure that our work had not been in vain.

Oh, if only it were that easy.  If only we could post a sign for our marriages that reads, "No weeds allowed," and leave it at that.

But, a sign will not do the trick.  And, just as a sign won't keep the weeds out of my flower beds, neither will it keep them from infringing on my marriage.  In fact, it takes vigilance to keep the weeds out of both flower beds and marriages alike.

Weeds like selfishness.  And pride.  Resentment.  Impatience.  Harsh words.  Prayerlessness.

That's why I'm committed to being vigilant as a wife.  Because, even though weeds can sometimes be pretty at first, if left alone, they take over and leave no nutrients for the real flowers.  The ones that display true beauty.   And just like I want a healthy and beautiful flower bed, I also want a healthy and beautiful marriage, where God's glory is displayed through and through.

And just as some weeds are more difficult to pull than others, some of my marriage weeds are really hard to get to the root of.  Especially selfishness.  The soil of my heart seems to really attract that one.  So I must stay vigilant.  By looking for ways to serve my husband.  By surrendering daily to God's plan and His ways so that the soil of my heart stays soft and doesn't get hard and crusty.

That, my friends, is what Mondays are all about here at andthensomore.  Vigilance.

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