“He makes me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2a)
I want to roll around in a muddy field. I think that it would be fun to play like a kid, get covered in mud, and not care. Maybe I’ll get my chance when I’m a mother. With a kid I could play it off like, “Hey, just trying to relate to the child.” Without a kid, I might be committed.
I guess “green pastures” are a’ight too. Soft and pretty. And undoubtedly filled with bugs. Consequently, I have no interest in playing in a green field. No ma’am. Wouldn’t want a Horton Finds a Who thing going on.
Sheep, on the other hand, are quite fond of a green pasture.
This picture reminds me, in an opposite kind of way, of our yard. When we moved into our house, the yard was brown and filled with weeds. Bushes were overgrown or stunted. The flowerbeds were filled with rocks. So my darling husband got to work. He went to Lowe’s and bought all manner of lawn equipment. Weed killer, fertilizer, mowing, edging, and a good soaking provided a major improvement.
But there was more. One Saturday morning, while I was sleeping the sleep of angels, Garrett headed over to Home Depot (twice before I ever woke up!) and bought bricks, mulch, and more fertilizer. Then came the physical labor - pulling out bushes, digging up rocks, laying down fertilizer and mulch, and placing bricks.
Our front yard started out like this.
And ended up like this.
And it’s still not finished.
But there’s only so much a body can do in a day. Garrett's back reminded him for days that he’d poured himself into the yard project. But it was totally worth it for the pride he felt in a job well done. Years from now when our future children enjoy the yard, they will have no idea of the work that went into making it beautiful.
My favorite Psalm 23 book
of all time reminds me of an important fact: green pastures don’t happen by accident in Palestine (where this psalm was
written). Shepherds cleared fields and planted tasty sheep treats in
order to provide nourishment for their flocks. Shepherds were active,
not passive, in the care of their sheep.
In the same way, God is at work around us all the time. He is not like Dr. House –enjoying a soap opera while ignoring the tragedy filling the building. Our lives are much more than a soap opera to our Creator. Last weekend I wrote about how He prepared me to enjoy the man He had for me as my husband. But I wonder how else he’s worked in my life. How many times has He protected me from a car accident? Or from a negative friendship? Or provided an encouraging friend at the moment that I needed it? Things that some might ascribe to coincidence or chance but that we can ascribe to a God that is active in our lives.
I want to roll around in a muddy field. I think that it would be fun to play like a kid, get covered in mud, and not care. Maybe I’ll get my chance when I’m a mother. With a kid I could play it off like, “Hey, just trying to relate to the child.” Without a kid, I might be committed.
I guess “green pastures” are a’ight too. Soft and pretty. And undoubtedly filled with bugs. Consequently, I have no interest in playing in a green field. No ma’am. Wouldn’t want a Horton Finds a Who thing going on.
Sheep, on the other hand, are quite fond of a green pasture.
This picture reminds me, in an opposite kind of way, of our yard. When we moved into our house, the yard was brown and filled with weeds. Bushes were overgrown or stunted. The flowerbeds were filled with rocks. So my darling husband got to work. He went to Lowe’s and bought all manner of lawn equipment. Weed killer, fertilizer, mowing, edging, and a good soaking provided a major improvement.
But there was more. One Saturday morning, while I was sleeping the sleep of angels, Garrett headed over to Home Depot (twice before I ever woke up!) and bought bricks, mulch, and more fertilizer. Then came the physical labor - pulling out bushes, digging up rocks, laying down fertilizer and mulch, and placing bricks.
Our front yard started out like this.
And ended up like this.
And it’s still not finished.
But there’s only so much a body can do in a day. Garrett's back reminded him for days that he’d poured himself into the yard project. But it was totally worth it for the pride he felt in a job well done. Years from now when our future children enjoy the yard, they will have no idea of the work that went into making it beautiful.
My favorite Psalm 23 book
of all time reminds me of an important fact: green pastures don’t happen by accident in Palestine (where this psalm was
written). Shepherds cleared fields and planted tasty sheep treats in
order to provide nourishment for their flocks. Shepherds were active,
not passive, in the care of their sheep.In the same way, God is at work around us all the time. He is not like Dr. House –enjoying a soap opera while ignoring the tragedy filling the building. Our lives are much more than a soap opera to our Creator. Last weekend I wrote about how He prepared me to enjoy the man He had for me as my husband. But I wonder how else he’s worked in my life. How many times has He protected me from a car accident? Or from a negative friendship? Or provided an encouraging friend at the moment that I needed it? Things that some might ascribe to coincidence or chance but that we can ascribe to a God that is active in our lives.
Questions:
- How do you work for the welfare of those that you are responsible for (families, employees, pets) in ways that they don’t see or understand?
- They say hindsight is 20-20. Looking back at your life, can you recognize how God was at work around you, even when you didn’t see it? What’s an example?
Re-living childhood is definitely a benefit of rearing children (smile). I loved watching Sesame Street and Mr. Rodgers, and painting / hiding Easter eggs among other things.
Anyway, I try to work for the welfare of those I love by offering them an earthly green pasture thru my home/my person (though neither perfect)
- a pleasant haven away from their own respective 'houses' or responsibilities. A place they know they can always come to and know they are welcome....where they will feel safe and nurtured and just be themeselves. An earthly refuge.
After the loss of my own mother - I not only missed her but missed having that special place (but she had her sights in the green pastures with her Shepherd, Psalm 23 was her favorite Psalm/Bible scripture and she would recite it, find comfort in it.) In hindsight I know that her early departure greatly strengthened me and taught me to never take for granted and appreciate having the gift of 'time' to live this life close to my own loved ones and to make every attempt to enjoy it regardless of the circumstances.
Posted by: Mom Reyes | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I remember as a child when my parents were together, that my mother made home life comfortable for my dad. I look back now and it was hard work. On Saturday mornings she always made sure he had a cold glass of tea while he worked on the yard. Our kitchen always had an ironing board in it because she always made sure he had freshly pressed clothes...she did it so well that he refused to take them to cleaners to get pressed and he would have them dry cleaned and she would still re-iron them because they weren't done well enough...her opinion. On Saturday afternoons, he would watch sports and she always made sure he had his favorite sandwich on the TV tray next to him and a glass of tea. Her love language was service and she served him well. I try to do that with my family. I try to make sure my husband has cold drink when doing the yard. I try to make sure he never has to search for a clean shirt. I try to keep fresh fruits for my daughter or clean towels. But I also try to encourage, and speak positive truths to my family. One thing I learned a long time ago...someone patronizing you can tear down a person, make them feel as if you can't say anything good about them so you have to come up with something. I value each member's strengths and I try to remind them of that.
6 days ago, Leslie Maddox replied...
That's a good thought about not patronizing people. I never thought of it that way. If we take the time to look at someone closely enough, we can find something positive to say about them.
Posted by: Rozette Peckham | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 11:09 PM
prayer is the main unseen way that i serve my family and other loved ones...i try to pray for their needs and not just their wants.
Posted by: Julissa | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 11:09 PM
I used to keep a grateful journal where you write five things everyday that you are grateful for...ok I got the idea from Oprah when she started her sprituality quest but it has been proven to be very enlightening. I would read back on it and see how God has worked in my life. For example, one day while volunteering in the ER at University of Florida a surgeon started talking to me (or me to him...he was a hotty with a body) and he first introduced me to the p.a. profession saying its a great field for women and better lifestyle. He also had just graduated from med school at UT Southwestern. At the time my parents still lived in Puerto Rico and Leslie had not even moved to Houston. Its crazy to me how I never even imagined moving to Texas and then I ended up getting into the pa school at UT Southwestern...small world!!! I know that God wanted me to randomly meet this guy to show me a plan for me and I have to giggle to myself that he knew it had to be a hotty with a body or I wouldnt have taken much notice. I wonder where that guy is today....
34 hours ago, Leslie Maddox replied...
That's hilarious. I love it how God knows how to get our attention. And it's a good idea to start off our prayers thanking God for something before jumping into the "here's what I want from You" portion of the prayer.
Posted by: Lil D | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 11:10 PM