Gardening is a wonderful activity! There’s fresh air, exercise and the chance to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. There are occasions when I underestimate the time commitment needed for gardening, such as how long it takes to plant multiple large trees. Or that two hundred flower bulbs take several hours to plant deep enough and then water. Recently, I had the opportunity to obtain some ‘good’ dirt. Gardners know that there is regular dirt and then there is ‘good’ dirt, which is the kind that makes plants grow better.

This pile of dirt was deposited into my yard and then had to be spread all around. When the pile of dirt was dropped off, it was much more than I expected. Nonetheless, I was grateful to have the dirt pile and started working on spreading it. Almost six hours later, I felt like I had barely shoveled any dirt, the pile remained huge. I felt overwhelmed as I went inside for the night as it was too dark to see the dirt pile.

Lesson #1: The next day, I returned to work on the dirt pile, convinced that I would finish it that day. After a few hours, I stepped back and focused on how much dirt was left to be moved. I started to feel overwhelmed again. I then heard the Holy Spirit say, “Do not focus on what is undone, focus on what has been done.” I went back to work feeling inspired.

Lesson #2: To spread the dirt, I had a shovel, a wheelbarrow and a pitchfork. The wheelbarrow always leans to the left and tips over a lot. I was getting frustrated each time it tipped over spilling dirt in a place that I did not want it. I then heard the Spirit say, “Use the tools you have in the way they work best.” This made me realize that things do not always work as they were made to work. Knowing the wheelbarrow was always going to tip left, I needed to change the way I was using it. I loaded it up heavier on the right and lined it up to dump out the dirt on the left so it would tip easier. This made me think about people. God made each of us with a certain way that we are inclined to work best. Instead of trying to get others to fit into the way I think they should work, I need to to see the way they work as a strength.

Lesson #3: There were times that my back hurt or I felt tired, in those moments I had to realize that it is okay to take a break. The dirt pile will still be there after I take a few minutes to just breathe and pray.

Lesson #4: I learned that working on the same side of the dirt pile did not provide a complete picture. It is good to walk around the situation and take inventory. Consider things from all sides and you may learn something about what you are working on that will make the task easier.

Let’s pray. Father, as we enter into a new year, we pray Solomon’s prayer of blessing. “Blessed be the Lord! Not one of all the good promises He made has failed. May the Lord our God be with us. May He not abandon us or leave us so that He causes us to be devoted to Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commands. May all the peoples of the earth know that the Lord is God. There is no other! Be wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord our God to walk in His statutes and to keep His commands, as it is today.” In Jesus name we pray, amen.