Full Circle Zinnias

                      Recently my sister -in- law  gave me these zinnia seeds.
                                                 

            

I had admired her row of colourful zinnia faces when we were there  in the summer time. 

                                                                                                                     

So she picked some of the heads gone to seed to plant next year.

I thanked her, and asked if she wanted me to pay her, she laughed and said "no, these seeds likely came from some that you had given me years ago."

Isn't that neat,I think to myself...after all these years and the zinnias simply grow, bloom, rest.  Grow,bloom,rest.
A relentless life circle of dying in order to propagate and produce. 


Relentless,yes it really does feel that way. We put down seeds whether literally or figuratively. We can never be fully prepared for the prudence required in maintaining the seeds. Some years there seems to be little for the labour we've extended.
 It feels unfair at times, for other people's gardens    are flourishing, and we think we've toiled longer and harder than they have.


I sift the zinnia seeds through  my fingers, the ones she said likely came from me.
I breathe a prayer for seeds I've sown, ones I am waiting on to take root, ones I know are there, but need time and the seasons elements to condition and strengthen.

        I must be patient and always hopeful for next years garden.

                         

 Let us not grow weary in doing good,
                for in due season we shall reap,
                          if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9

             
               
    

Remembering to Forget

My Verse today....But This One Thing I do:
 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me.   (Philipians 3 :13)

Isn't that a wonderful verse?
It's so easy sometimes  to beat myself up and let go of  regrets and mistakes.
And I don't always mean the big things ;sometimes it's those silly, little everyday happenings and minute decisions where it would have been very nice to have the foresight of hindsight....."why didn't I stop to pick up chicken feed when I drove right by yesterday?" or "why did I make such an insensitive comment?" or "why didn't I plant my garden last week?" These are small things in reality but if I allow them to take root they can rob me of peace.

So a long time ago I claimed the verse above as I keep pressing on
where some day I will recieve the prize.

Growth....a Study In Waiting

GROWTH....a process of growing through progressive development or increase...(.Websters)

YOU MUST WRESTLE WITH IT.

LET NO ONE ASSIST OR RELIEVE YOU.THIS IS FOR YOUR BETTERMENT AND PERHAPS,

IF YOUR DREAMS ALIGN WITH GOD'S

IT IS THE BEGINNING OF

YOUR ARTISTIC JOURNEY.

TRY TO SEE THE ART IN THE STRUGGLE.

PRAY THAT GOD GIVES YOU

THE STRENGTH AND THE WISDOM

TO LOVE IT.

(TAKEN FROM WITH NEW EYES BY MARGARET BECKER)