The titles we collect as we collect years can be infinite.
I am in the process of acquiring a new one by the name of: Gardener.
I do not have a green thumb, I lack patience, and I hate pulling weeds. But as I'm figuring out, sometimes we are led to opportunities of these new titles to challenge us, to change us, or simply to help satisfy the soul —whether we realize this or not. The title of "Mother" has certainly been an adventure I never would've dreamed of, but could not imagine my life differently. And the title of "Wife" is one that I am trying desperately hard to be worthy of in my husband's eyes.
It was actually my husband who spoke this new title into existence. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, we surveyed our backyard with dismay. We have two babies under two and it can get kind of busy —we've shamefully let our backyard get a week behind on the mowing, and the garden beds we were so excited about when we first moved in are now overrun by weeds. My husband has been known to work his fair share of long days, and it is not exactly ideal for to let our babies roast in the heat of the day while I get some strainuous yard work done.
My husband let out a long sigh and said, "I wish you were a wife who kept a tidy lawn and garden." Or something along those lines.
Ouch. That stung.
My first reaction was to get defensive, and looking back, I shouldn't have. (Though to be quite honest... I always get defensive! I'm working on it Lord!) He didn't mean it as an insult or an attack to my character, but defensive I sure got. My job as mother doesn't start at 9am and end at 5pm like his job does. I am taking care of two babies, keeping a house clean, getting laundry done, and trying to make sure I, myself, get fed, watered, and bathed regularly. I wanted to demand why he thought I wasn't doing enough as it is, and wanted me to become a gardener overnight. But again, it wasn't that at all.
I took a step back and instead of getting upset with him, I decided I was going to do something about it. So I prayed on it, and once the babies were both content or sleeping, I went to work. I drug up a wooden pallet first, up to the top of the deck. Then a galvanized garden bed left from the previous owners. I situated one on top of the other. Then I put down a layer of cardboard, wetted it down, added a layer of sticks and branches I had raked from the yard, followed by two bucket loads of grass clippings, some soil mixed with a bit of compost, and finally, I topped it off with a layer of top soil. I then went about seeding and transplanting.
As I worked in silence, building my little garden, I couldn't help but admire the peace this had brought to my soul. God has a funny of way of knowing what we need, even if we don't.
1 Corinthians 3:7-8
7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.
Perhaps today, it is time for you to embrace a new title of your own.
Loving Lord,
Help me use whatever opportunity that is in front of me today to glorify you. Help me to grow closer in likeness to the woman in Proverbs 31 and let me always remember to give thanks to you. Let me nourish a garden with the love and patience and resilience that reflects that of your own for us.
In your glorious name I pray,
Amen.
A special acknowledgment to my husband: Thank you for inspiring me. You have this incredible gift of seeing more potential in me than I can. When I would say, "I can't," you are always there to quickly remind me to "Stop saying that!" Haha. Thank you for always encouraging me reach for the stars and having the patience while I work to get there. I love you so.
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