Fruit, a Garden and Joyfulness

Our Pastor has been doing a series on the Fruit of the Spirit during the summer months.  Its been really good stuff so far. Perhaps by the time I post this, the message from Sunday will be online.  Perhaps not.

It really got me thinking.

Robbed of Joy

The message yesterday was on JOY. I realized how much of it I was lacking.  I tend to never be happy where I am.  I am always desiring more, wanting to be better, wanting to know more, have more people join my facebook page (subtle — I know).

I don’t think he was saying ‘don’t improve yourself’.  I do believe he was saying – don’t let the desire for more and better rob you of your joy.

Quick Example: We went dancing Saturday night.  There’s a great outdoor pavilion at a park downtown where big bands play every weekend.  We had a great time, yet I became frustrated because all I know are the ‘basic dance moves’.  To me, it wasn’t enjoyable to keep doing the same steps over and over.  I wanted to jazz it up (the performer in me – go figure!).

It started to really tick me off, and I let it rob me of the good time I was having with my beautiful wife™.

On the other hand, it was a great night — the weather was terrific.  I was with my beautiful wife™, we had eaten a great dinner, we weren’t the youngest, or the oldest (by far) on the dance floor, we were laughing, we saw some friends.  We could actually move our knees (without needing any assistance) while we were dancing.

I was caught up in ‘not being good enough’, and it robbed me of some of the joy of the night.

Gardening

Unrelated, but stick with me here….

We planted a garden this year.  We noticed that we have some tomatoes growing, some squash, and we are close to having some cucumbers.  The carrots seem to be growing well, and the corn has begun to grow what looks like straw hair (it will be interesting to see if corn actually does grow in the suburbs.  I have always imagined that it only likes to grow on big farms).

While the vegetables aren’t done yet, they are further along than when we planted them.  We put seeds in the ground — Now there are big bushy plants with appendages.

This didn’t happen overnight.  It took several weeks.

Our pastor mentioned that the Fruit of God’s spirit also doesn’t appear overnight. It takes time to grow in us, and manifest itself.

Nice Ramble Stu, But Get to the Point

For me – I need to watch out when I am wanting to be better, more advanced, further along than I am.  It robs me of the joy that could be developing in my life by appreciating where I am.

But what about you?

Are you simply ok with being where you are?

I think there are some things to learn together for our relationships if we take time to think about it:

• Acknowledge where we are as a couple. If you don’t know where you are, you can’t grow to anything better.

• Be there. Not somewhere else.  Yes, it might be rough.  But you can’t skip the rough parts.   It might be STUPENDOUS right now, but don’t get to cocky.  Can you be ok right now — while growth is happening? (Even though you might not feel it, or see it yet, or, if you do feel it and it is painful?)

• Realize that growth doesn’t come instantly. It takes time.

Some things to do while you are growing?

• Ease off the pedal.

• Pause.

• Reflect.

• Smile.

• Slow Down.

• Take time to look at the little positive things.

A friend once said to me, “I am thankful for the hot water in the shower this morning. Sometimes
I forget to be happy, or thankful for those little things.”

She found great joy in the water.

Today, I am finding joy because I have the tools to write this down.
Joyful for the technology to put it in a place where you can read it, and it might spark some thoughts or actions –Or better yet, it might inspire some reflection on the joy in your life.

And thankful that you take the time to read here at the Marry Blogger.

photo by urtica

Tagged as: fruit of the spirit, gardening, JOY, Thankfulness