It happens every year. Before the February ground begins to warm, I envision rows of tomatoes, fragrant rosemary and basil, perfectly lined stalks of corn, and red, green and yellow peppers. My entire garden will be raised from seed and the combination and planting order of plants will keep the insects away. I’ll be able to fill my vases with fresh cut flowers from the abundance of wild flowers I will plant. My porch will be homey and inviting, full of hanging plants and container veggies. This year, the weeds will not catch up to me. It will be the best garden yet!
As with many aspects of my life, it doesn’t quite turn out the way I imagine; and often, disappointment ensues.
I sometimes wonder if God feels the same way about me. Could what He envisioned my life to be and what it actually is be a disappointment to Him?
I thought of this as I put my granddaughter Mila’s shoes on to take her outside to feed the horses. She’s at the age where everything is new and exciting from our gray cat who lounges on the porch rail to the birds taunting him from the feeders safely out-of-reach. Life is full for Mila, wide open. Any dream could be reached. Any plan put into place.
I often consider, if I had to do it all over again, would I do it differently? What would I change?
When I realize the consequences of changing this or that – I come to the conclusion that I would change very little. But…today, I can begin to change tomorrow. Every day we get to start fresh and new. We have an opportunity to make things right. We no longer have to live with the baggage, the hurt, the disappointment, because today, we have a chance to change it for the good.
I don’t know if I will ever have the garden I envision; but then again, I guess if I ever achieved it, I’d missed out on all the fun of planning it.
Keep dreaming. Keep imagining. Keep doing. Keep moving forward. For after all, the greatest successes are based on persistence not necessarily talent.
Revelation 21:5 reminds us, “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'”
