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On Faith, Gardening, and Digging Deep.

May 2, 2012 By Laura 9 Comments

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      Our family really loves Sundays.  It’s just a feel-good-family day, all the way around.

     This past Sunday after Mass, we all came home, and changed into our old clothes, so that we could get working in our garden beds.  Oh, the butterflies I get this time of year! It’s almost time for planting, so we needed to get all of the winter rye that we had growing in the beds, chopped down, and turned into the soil. There is much to do, to create soil rich enough to produce well for us.

cultivating-faith-gardening      Whenever I’m working in the gardens, especially in the planting season, my thoughts most always turn to my faith in God. In my mind, there are many parallels, between the process of gardening, and one’s day to day faith.


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The Dirt on Gardening

     With gardening, we put so much into all we hope for.  We cultivate the soil, nourish it, and plant our tiny seeds or little starters, where they will receive the proper amount of light.  We water them daily, if nature does not send us sufficient rain. We wait and keep watch daily, with great anticipation.  Our eyes seek for a sprout. Some sign of growth. For the fruits of our labor, to reveal itself.  Although we may enjoy all we put into our gardens along the way, the reward is the great surplus each plant provides for us, whether it be beauty or food, from the little seed we began with.

Cultivating Our Hearts

     Isn’t that much like how our faith begins? At some point in our lives, a seed of faith in God, was planted within many of us. Whether we were aware of that exact moment happening, or not. For many of us, that may have been as babies, and nourished throughout our upbringing, from our parents. For others, it may have come much later in life. Perhaps it began with circumstances in life, or one’s own seeking for something they felt was missing. But for all of us, our spirituality can only grow and bloom, when we have given our time to cultivate that most important relationship in our lives.  When we have turned to Him, in times of thanksgiving and praise, and in times of need and despair, as well. When we have spent time daily, in communion with our Savior, Jesus Christ – in thought, in prayer, in praise, in a way that keeps our heart open to Him.

 

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To Know God, is to Better Revel in Life

Our faith in God, and our relationship with Christ, we believe is what enables us to experience a more elevated state of joy in our days here on earth. Our eyes are open to the abundant blessings that rains down on us, and all around us. We know that all good things come to us, by the grace of His loving hand.  Our hearts rejoice, for the love He shows us.  Likewise, we have learned, we are wise to give thanksgiving, even for the most difficult trials and tribulations in our lives.  Even they have great purpose, and bring forth blessings of their own. It is easy to question God, isn’t it? We want to know why, for each one of our sufferings. But we know deep down inside, God’s love for us is pure, and beyond measure. He is there to comfort us, He does only want what is best for us, and only He knows the big picture of ours lives.

    God is good. God is always good!

 

Even on the Darkest of Days

     Oh, we know friends, the devastation life can bring.  Unexpected tragedies, life-threatening or terminal illnesses, lost lives of people we love, unemployment and financial hardships, betrayals and broken hearts….the list is endless.  We know….it is touching the lives of people we know and love, all around us, too. Our family too, is not untouched by the hardships and disappointments of our own, that can roll in like the tide, leaving a mess on our seashore of life, that was so clean and beautiful yesterday.  The memory of what was, leaves us longing, and we wonder if we appreciated it enough, while we had it. We wonder when the tide will ever come in again, to sweep the mess away.  

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Inclement Elements

           Despite the time and attention we have invested in our gardens, or our daily spirituality, there is always the threat of damaging elements, that can come along on any given day, to deal with for a time. In both the daily lives we live, as well as the weather, there are storms.  They must be faced with courage. We must persevere.  We must stand on the greatest asset we have, which is our faith, in the most difficult of times, and believe that God will help bring us through our trials, to the other side of the storm.

     His love for us is filled with many promises, that are grace….

Sticky Note This

    It is easy to forget, for we get wrapped up in this physical life. But we would be wise to remember, and take comfort in knowing, that ultimately, we are not meant for this world.  The greatest gifts of all, a life free of any and suffering, are promised to us eternally, beyond our earthly days.

     It is the mustard seed of faith, from within our hearts, that we know as truth, that always offers the light of hope.

     “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” – John 1:5

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Pass It On, to the Littles

    By our side, our children learn about the complexities of life.  From the day they are born, they experience all of the happiness, wonders, and beautiful gifts of life, as well as the realization that the world is not a perfect place, and that bad and sad things can happen, even to good people. And the value of our faith, through it all!   

     Parenting is our beautiful opportunity, to build up in them character to live a life pleasing to God! Thankfully, as homeschoolers, we have that ability to navigate when and how our children awake to the challenges of life, and realities of this world. I can tell you that there are many raw, honest, and deep discussions that take place, with our children. It’s a beautiful time of connection, between us all. But as a parent, to see the revelations unfold within them, is such a heart-wrenching honor.  We cannot shield them from all of the hurts and truths that life can bring. Doesn’t a piece of every parent’s heart, want to? But no, it would be a great dis-service to them, to keep them ignorant to the harsh realities of life, for long. 

     What we can do, is arm them well, with the tools of our never-failing faith, and a strong faith in our God, who never leaves us.

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Expect a Mixed Forecast
, But Take Heart

         Life can bring the greatest moments of laughter and happiness.  We cannot count the ways in which we have been blessed!  Our days can be filled with such sunshine, contentment and peace. But when the dark storms of life circumstances descend upon us, our faith can feel diminished, to the size of a mustard seed. It can be very difficult to find solace in our faith, so small and buried.

     But those are the times we need our faith, more than ever!  If we have allowed ourselves to be filled with bitterness and anger, it can be difficult to bring ourselves to reach. To be humble enough, to express such a need, in the face of feeling abandoned. We must find the seed though, that we alone have neglected, shriveling again in the questioning of God’s love for us. Maybe we turn away from God in anger, confused, but He never leaves us alone. We must get back to the seed of our faith, and begin again. Because it holds all of the promises, and all of the strength we need to carry us through.  So that peace and contentment can be ours again. In time, if we turn our face upwards to Him again, and open our hearts, we will see He was always at work within us, through the storm.  God heals hearts.  Let Him!

“You will grieve, but your grief will turn into joy.” John 16:20

 

Light Into Darkness, and Back Again

     Maybe that is part of His plan all along…..to bring us to the point where we realize, we actually need Him. To make us seek His grace.  He wants us to know the comfort of His love.  He wants to help us see His face…..the Light, in the darkness.  To truly know Him and need Him, so that we always walk beside Him, and realize that He only wants to lead us to something greater.  Don’t we always appreciate the light shining on all that is beautiful, the most after we have experienced such darkness? 

   Are you experiencing darkness, in this period of your life?  Are you resistant, or wrestling, to sense the great faith you had on better days?

   Your hope and solace, is in the mustard seed, friend.  Sometimes, when we have neglected all we have built up in faith, we must begin again. In doing so, God promises our gardens can not only flourish again, but bring forth more fruit than we ever dreamed for ourselves.  His love for us, is that great. That is what He wants for us, and what we truly want, for ourselves.


So we must. dig. deeper.



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Filed Under: Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Gardening, Into the Light; The Series, Life In General, The Big Picture, The Homestead Tagged With: Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families, encouragement, Faith, faith-encouragement-in-hard-times, faith-in-troubled-times, gardening-like-faith, grieving, life-is-hard, mustard-seed-of-faith

Into the Light | A Personal Reflection

February 5, 2012 By Laura 10 Comments

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When we need to clear our mind, and break the unhealthy circle of thoughts we are entertaining, we often find that going outdoors is almost like magic. Have you ever noticed that? The fresh air, the warmth of the sun, the sight of a bird soaring overhead, or the sounds of children laughing and playing nearby; all of the life around us, tend to give us a new sense of life inside of ourselves.  We may feel rejuvenated, more positive, hopeful, and stronger.  For awhile, anyway.

There are many tools in life, that are like power tools, for me.  Although they do not have electrical cords, or build physical objects, they build a sense of joy for me. For awhile. Power tools, such as listening and singing along to awesome music, reading well written books, having a loaded paintbrush in hand, sinking into great fits of laughter with my children, accepting a long hug from my husband, and being truly present at church on a Sunday morning. These power tools, they have the ability to change my mood from blue to happy.  My tone from sharp, to loving.  My expectations from discouraged, to hopeful.  Power tools. We all need a tool box to keep them in, and remember to open it and retrieve them for use often, to find more moments of enjoyment in our day to day life.  I try to just leave mine lying around out in the open, because when I need them, I need them fast! And because seeing them remind me, I have moments of indulgence, to look forward to.

We’re all looking for a quick-fix, anytime we can get one. Aren’t we? We live in a world, that serves up many instant distractions and irrelevant entertainment, to avoid the things we should most be looking at, thinking about, doing, using.  What about the big picture?  The truth of our lives?  When disappointments come our way, or tragedy strikes so unexpectedly.  When the darkest shadows of our lives take such a choke-hold of us, that we aren’t even able to bring ourselves to even care about our tool box – what then?  Where is the most potent source, of all of our greatest needs?  Comfort, when we feel such despair and loss.  Hope, when we see or feel none, and carry such a sense of overwhelming.  Joy, when the sadness, anger, or self-pity are overflowing.  Love, when we feel alone, with no one to understand, or care, enough. Understanding, when we truly just cannot….understand, the hand of cards we got dealt with.

     I know where.  GOD.  He is the source of all we really need.  Jesus’ Word, is our map, a light for our path, and our complete answer book.  His Word, His love and ever-presence…the Truth,….it’s  the Daddy-Mack tool box, of all tool boxes, filled with more than just quick daily mood fixes. But a whole wardrobe to redress our souls, and arm us with all we ever need, as we face the challenges of our earthly daily lives.  To heal, repair and renew those things nothing in our tool box, can really fix. What’s more, if we can listen to His Word, and study it enough, ponder it long enough, we have the hope and promise of eternal life with Him.  Where comfort, hope, joy, understanding, and love, are no longer needs or desires, but all we have.  All pure goodness. Can you imagine?

     Anyone who knows my family in real life, know that we have a strong faith in God. We pray alone, we pray together, we give thanks to Him, for our obvious blessings. Always. We do our best to live a life, that reflects our love for Him, to Him.  Not for anyone else. I am aware, of the peace He brings, deep within. I know of His mighty works, for we have seen it many times, first hand. We hold fast to His promises, because we believe in them. We have felt the indescribable, pure peace and joy of being filled with the Holy Spirit. I personally revel in that. It’s a high like no other.

  But it is also true, that those who know me in real life, know that I am a lot more rough around the edges, than you would ever gather reading our blog.  It’s not at all that I have ever been fake, by any means. As if trying to make others believe I am someone I am not, through this blog. But I have….held back. Too careful, not to offend anyone.  Too selfish, not wanting to minimize our reading audience.  Too protected, with the walls I build, to not let anyone too close. Too sure, no one needs to read about others small battles or challenges in life.  Especially when we are clearly so blessed, with the things that are most valuable in life.  We know we are blessed, and we are thankful to God for it all.  And blessings…..joys……those are the things I have always wanted to focus on most.

     But I don’t always.  We have our problems and struggles, too. I have my days, where my attitude sucks, despite all I have that is good and joyful. When I resent someone enough, that I don’t want to think about them, much less pray for them.  When I don’t feel well, and I lack patience and energy, and have a sharp and sarcastic tongue with my children, and then wallow because I feel bad for messing up.  I can be a bad example, and I can put walls up between myself and anyone I want to.  And oh how I want to all too often! (I am SO good with wall-building. Like, a professional.)    Because people can really bug the hell out of me, quite frankly.  Because sometimes, it’s just easier.  I can be too busy. Too distracted.  Too selfish.  Too lost in the shadows, and too far from the Light.  On those days, I feel small, and weak, and tired. Eventually, when I finally find my humble-state and strength, just as I teach my children, I must apologize to those I may have hurt or offended, and promise to try harder, and do better.

     All the while, I know better in the first place. All the while, even on our best and most joyful days, that really are the majority, I expect more of me. I fall short of my own high standards on many levels, and more importantly, I know God expects more of me as well. While I know our tools are on one hand meant as the simple joys God has given us, that they seem to be, I also know there is a greater meaning to it all. Our day to day activities. The things we love to do. The reason we do anything at all. What does it all mean? What is the greater purpose? What are we to learn from it all?  I know I don’t know, nearly all there is to know. But I do know I hear Him calling me closer, and I want to go. I know His love for me, for us all, is immeasurable.  I want to grow, more, in Him. I want to love, like that.  I want His Light to fill every shadow that is to come our way, and know how to find Him, and His abundant gifts of peace, love, joy, grace, and knowing. I want to have a deeper and clearer understanding of His Word, Jesus’ teachings, the Scripture, and what they mean for me, for my family, for you, for us all.  That would be the greatest power tool of all!

     That is one of the main purposes, for this fresh new space for our blog, for us, and for you.  It is the fresh new space, as a reminder, that we want to daily broaden our direction, to a holier and more complete life.  A space that honors God more, as we do in our family life. To focus more on Him, and learn, every day, in every way, all of the time. While we indulge in our power tool box, or while we face the challenges and fears of the dark shadows of our life, it is our journey to turn to Him in all that we do, and allow Him to cast His Light over it all. And to reflect that here, as it comes. To face life, with all of it’s day to day struggles, and all of our stumbling and flaws, and look to Jesus’ messages for perspective and strength. We’d like this blog to be a place to encourage each other, to be more….all that He has created us to be….to try again….to better fulfill our vocations.  I know we have places that could use some healing. We will fall down, or lose our way. But we can dust off, and begin again. God is always there, never leaving us. He will always forgive us, again and again, and never stop loving us, with a kind of love we can’t even fathom. We want to listen harder to His message, to strive harder to follow His Word, to accept His grace and forgiveness, and rely on the strength we can only truly gain from Him, and His love.

     I think I’ll be shining all the more authentically around here, because I need to.  God willing, you will see me grow, too.  Because at 40-something, I am going through a growth spurt!  It’s painful at times, but it’s all-so-good. Life is good. God is infinitely good.  It’s a new and brighter journey, for us all, if we let Him shine in the shadows that life casts upon us all, too.  We hope you feel encouraged to do the same.  And we encourage you to keep your own tool boxes open and accessible at all times!  Because there is always something that comes along in life, that could use a little just fixing.

– Laura (and family)

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 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14)




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Filed Under: Faith, Faith/ Catholic, Into the Light; The Series, Life In General, The Big Picture Tagged With: Catholic-blogs, Catholic-families, encouragement, Faith, light, reflections

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