I have been working on pulling weeds in my backyard for a couple of weeks now. Now, there were two reasons why I was pulling weeds around the hedge. Number 1, it needed it desperately. Number 2 I have been wanting to put fertilizer on said hedge for quite some time now, but didn’t want to fertilize the weeds.
Typically, while I work in the yard, I pray. I pray about normal stuff, things that are bothering me, and I usually also pray for whatever plants I happen to be working on. So, I was praying this morning. And in the course of praying my mind started to wander a bit about something a very wise lady asked me a few weeks ago. She knows that there are many areas in my life where I am giving to other people, giving my time, advise, what little wisdom I have. Her question was, “When are you being fed?” Well, I read my Bible and pray everyday. No, that’s not what she was talking about. She was talking about being encouraged and uplifted by other women. Hmm.. not so much I thought. So, I prayed about it this morning while I was pulling weeds.
Well, this morning, I finally finished all of the hedge that I can get to without taking on the wilds behind our shed. So, I excitedly went to get the fertilizer. The first 10 feet or so was fine, but then, I started to notice something… weeds! I had just cleared out that whole area less than 2 weeks ago, and already there were some pretty big weeds growing. Talk about frustrating! So, I started pulling weeds before I put down the fertilizer. Then, I noticed something. In my neighbor’s yard, there were weeds along the fence line right where my new weeds were growing. Hmmm… I think I got a re-infestation from my neighbor.
Then it hit me, the Lord was teaching me something as I pulled weeds. As I am spending time helping others, I have to be careful not to allow those near me to infect me with their “weeds”. I can’t allow a friend’s discontentment with her life to rub off on me, or another’s aggravation with her husband to make me aggravated with mine.
I already knew this…
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
But think about the reverse…
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
We all need to be careful to spend time with those who build us up. Ministering to one another is a blessed thing, but sometime, we need to take the time to be ministered to.