I am a plant slayer. Don’t get me wrong – I love plants. I feel so relaxed when out in nature, surrounded by trees, grass, and other magnificent greenery and flowers. But somehow the skill of keeping plants alive often eludes me. I’ve been given a variety of different plants as gifts over time, and many times they haven’t survived. I’ve somehow even managed to kill cacti!
Where have I been going wrong?
Plants need sunshine. I gave them sunshine… Maybe I unintentionally scorched them?
Plants need water. I gave them water (when I remembered) … Maybe I unwittingly drowned them?
Plants need food. I didn’t even think about this one! Maybe I unknowingly starved them?
I do have three plants that I have managed to keep alive for a while. A friend gave me two plants at the start of the year to go on my desk at school, where I work as a teacher. One of the plants says, ‘Do not water’ on the tag. The other plant is in a clear jar so I can clearly see the water level and know when to top it up. My friend definitely knows me well.
The third plant has survived for even longer than the other two. A few years ago, my boss gave my colleagues and me a ‘Happy Plant’ for World Teachers Day. Somehow, I’ve been able to keep that one alive. Maybe its name indicates that it is happy no matter what happens.
I had to ask myself if I am the same as my Happy Plant. ‘Am I happy, or joyful, no matter what happens?’
I am a self-confessed imperfect plant carer. Sometimes I’m unintentionally neglectful and other times I try to make up for forgetting to water my plants by going a little over the top. But God is the Perfect Carer – of plants, yes, and also of imperfect humans like me. He knows exactly what His plants, animals, and children need at just the right time.
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? ~ Matthew 6:30 (NLT)
Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? ~ Matthew 6:26 (NLT)
I live in a first-world country, with first-world problems. It’s so easy to look around at other people and what they have (or don’t have), and wish I was blessed the same way as them.
‘Blessed the same way’. God knew that we needed guidance in this area, so He gave us Commandment Number 10. ‘You must not covet…’ (Exodus 20:17a).
Fill in your own blank of what you covet… the list can be never-ending if we let it.
I have to remind myself that I am blessed. By The ‘I AM’ (see Exodus 3:14). I look at my life and realize that God has blessed me abundantly in many different areas. The blessings just may not look the way I expected them to look. And that can be hard, at times.
So, what is the secret to being like my Happy Plant? No matter what happens in life? No matter what our circumstances do or don’t look like? Or how neglected we feel, like my plants often were?
God has some answers for us.
Here are just some of them:
- ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.’ ~ Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
- ‘And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.’ ~ Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
- ‘We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!’ ~ Hebrews 12:2 (CEV)
So, when I get distracted by the things I don’t have but want, or do have but don’t want, I need to remind myself that these are the minor things of this life – the blink of an eye, compared to my life forever with God. It’s not these things that will ultimately give me joy. Life with God is the main event. The only thing that can truly make us HAPPY.
WRITER: Michelle Litster