The other day I was weeding around my pool. Not exactly my favorite pass time but it has to be done, right? After working so hard to uproot these difficult weeds that seemed like their root systems had been there for decades… I begin to think about some things.

When I plant beautiful flowers & vegetables it takes effort to grow them. Many won’t survive without being intentional to water them, prune them, protect them from harsh weather, and nourish them. If you want to have a vibrant and growing garden then you must take time to care for them. If not they will wither up and die. This is just like our relationships. It takes time to nourish them & keep them healthy. This goes for marriages, families, friendships, co-workers, neighbors, the list is endless. We only get out what we put into it.

It’s quite the opposite for weeds to grow right? Weeds… wow these things grow even when we put plastic down, mulch or rock to cover it, even POISON to kill it and keep it from growing. I mean I don’t know about you but I get so frustrated dealing with weeds… They never cease to amaze me when they even grow up through the cracks in a concrete parking lot… There is no place they can’t find a way to grow.

Funny because that is exactly how bitterness and offense grows. It creeps in where it doesn’t belong, where protection (mulch) has been laid, and poison has been put in place to make sure it doesn’t effect my relationships… yet here we are. Surrounded by sprouts of offense & bitterness. It’s so frustrating because though we try so hard to keep it out… it finds a way in. This is why we are warned in Hebrews to watch out for this as follows of Christ because it’s going to try to trip us up.

Hebrews 12:15 “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.”

We must pay attention to these types of warnings in the Word of God. This is a tool to help you see what can and probably will come into your life. We have been warned to keep our eyes alert and don’t become trapped by the schemes of the enemy.

If you know anyone who likes to grow plants; you know that weeding is the most not enjoyable part of the growing process. But it’s so necessary. We all want our plants to thrive & be beautiful but it will only happen with intentional work.

Just like our relationships in this life. We must take time to keep them hydrated & nourished. Protect them from the storms that come. Prune them when needed. Overall make sure they stay healthy. Don’t let weeds grow up & consume it. Uproot it from the moment you see it! This alone will change your life!

I love the saying, “Bloom where you are planted”. This is so true. If you’re healthy and you are in a relationship with someone else who is healthy. Then together you will produce beautiful lifegiving joy to each other!

As I’ve been reading in the Word of God. We are created for each other & we need each other. This life isn’t meant to live alone. It’s meant for community. This takes work. This takes effort. This takes being intentional. Will there be difficulties along the way, you better believe it. Will there be hard seasons, you already know that. Anything worth having, will have to be fought for at some point. But when Jesus is at the center of it all, there is nothing impossible.

Lord, I pray for whoever reads this that you take a moment and help us examine our hearts. Let us realize the value of the people that You’ve placed in our lives. We were made to be in relationship with one another. Help us to see the schemes of the enemy woven through out our life. We want to have life giving relationships. Relationships that exemplify the mercy & grace of Jesus. Let our marriages be full of love & life. Producing an example of how God loves us so well. Have our family lives be full of grace & joy! Let the other relationships in our life be an encouraging part of our life, that helps us to grow to be better versions of us! In Jesus Name we pray!