How Does Your Garden Grow?

I enjoy 'word pictures'. I often look at words and think of the ways in which they illustrate life principles. 

'Cultivate' is one of those words that inspires me on a personal level and helps me create a picture in my mind of how it can bring application to my life. 

Here's the dictionary meaning(s):

Cul·ti·vate  

a. To improve and prepare (land), as by plowing or fertilizing, for raising crops; till.

b. To loosen or dig soil around (growing plants).

2. To grow or tend (a plant or crop).

3. To promote the growth of (a biological culture).

4. To nurture; foster.                          

5. To form and refine, as by education.

6. To seek the acquaintance or goodwill of; make friends with

I like gardening .... as much of a novice as I am, I have enjoyed some good successes each season that I've invested the time. Perennials I planted a few years back surprise me every spring with new, vigorous growth and an increasing number of showy blooms. Annuals, of course, need to be introduced freshly every year and require more gentle care . It is enjoyable to experiment, to add new elements, to see the fruits of your labor. 

A beautiful, fruitful, productive garden, yard or orchard doesn't just happen by accident.

It takes careful planning, preparation and patience. It takes hard work and the proper tools. The soil has to be turned and tilled and cleared of rocks, weeds and debris. It takes the right balance of sun, rain and fertilizer. The proper seeds/plants have to be chosen for your growth zone, planted carefully and nurtured. In due time the results of the efforts will begin to spring forth and in its abundance, a garden begins to bloom. 

Without the proper 'cultivation', a garden will not thrive but simply survive .... and after a while of neglect it simply becomes an eyesore.

And so it is with life.... a full, balanced, productive, fruitful life just doesn't happen by accident either. 

It matters that we become intentional about how we 'cultivate' ~ how we spend our time, money and energy. We may need to clear the landscape of our life from the things that hinder or even prevent our growth towards being the best we can hope to be. We may need to turn over some attitudes, pull up some old habits, fertilize with new friends or influences, water with more personal discipline, provide some sunshine for our dreams. We may have to prune some relationships and seemingly important priorities that stifle our our growth towards influence personal excellence. 

Life needs constant cultivating ..... and weeds often provide the biggest threat to another wise healthy garden. Fresh weeds spring up quickly and continually.

The thing with weeds is that, to a novice,  they are often hard to identify, they don't require much nurturing  to multiply and thrive, and left untreated, they take over the fertile soil choke out any hopes of good growth. If weeds are neglected or ignored they get very large, very quickly and they become very difficult to remove. It's hard to salvage a garden that has become overrun with weeds.

Trees, bushes and flowers need regular pruning too. I often hesitate to prune because it seems so painful to cut away and trim back exposing bare branches and stems. Inevitably though, I never realize how much I needed to prune until I see the results .... everything looks more properly balanced and proportionate. Pruning encourages fabulous new growth in the heart of the plant rather than just on the outside edges making it fuller, stronger and healthier.

The work of cultivating doesn't stop after the planning, preparation and provision of the proper resources .... the ongoing work is about managing the weeds, assessing each specific area and making adjustments to improve the quality, regular pruning to keep the elements of life balanced and healthy. 

Cultivate ...... how does your garden grow?

Yielding all I know about me to all I know about Him