Magnificent Killers
This is an early Mother’s Day blog from an old grandmother.
Please read it and take it to heart. Life is short. Make the best of the days God gives!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen wisteria as beautiful as it was this year. Maybe it is the extreme and prolonged cold we had. I don’t know, I just like the color and gracefully draped cascades of fragrant flowers. They adorned roadsides and vacant lots throughout this part of Georgia and let me know spring was just around the corner.
But no matter how beautiful wisteria is, it is considered an invasive species. The heavy vines wrap around a host tree and literally strangle it. As wisteria girdles the tree and sends its heavy vines to smaller upper branches, it continues to weaken the tree. The weight can topple limbs and even the tree itself.
It’s interesting how this beautiful little flower is a weed. Like so many small plants with bright spring flowers, this creeper can ruin a yard full of carefully planted grass. Year after year these and other weeds thrive in all sorts of weather and soil conditions when top-notch grass withers no matter how carefully a person tends the yard.
Some of the most industrious creatures on the planet can also be some of the most destructive. They make determined little trails to mounds of earth they have loosened. Below ground are huge networks of cave-like structures built by their tiny jaws to build elaborate tunnels with carefully arched structures that will not collapse when people walk above.
Brilliant, industrious, productive. Yet in the case of the fire ants, in some cases they can be deadly.
It’s interesting but disquieting to think on things in my life that seem beautiful, fun, well-done, industrious, or exciting but in reality take away precious time or distract from the true purpose of my life.
It’s often little things that choke out my focus, my good intentions, and worthwhile activities. I need to evaluate the invasive species of my life and move on to more purposeful living.
I’m going to get really nosy here and give my opinions. Unsolicited but given in love.
In today’s world, there are so many distractions that keep us from the most important thing we can ever do – draw closer to God every single day.
When time is spent watching questionable movies, playing violent video games, and listening to music filled with vulgarity, one’s life will be drawn to that mindset. All of those things will take one away from God. I was shocked when I heard a song the other day whose words included, ‘I’m a loser, so just kill me.’
My heart is broken as I see news that glorifies sins too numerous to list. I can’t imagine what God must feel!
Here’s my Mother’s Day request.
Take serious time this week to evaluate where you are headed. Ask God to show what activities are choking the good from your life or distracting you from your purpose. Pray for His perfect will. Repent of the things that are keeping you from God’s best. Take time to study the Word of God. It is VERY practical. Read through Proverbs to get a jump start on living a blessed life. Commit your life fully to Him.
The Message version of the Bible has this from Proverbs 3 – Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give Him the first and the best.
Blessings
Kara Beth
(Wisteria picture courtesy of King Davis.)
