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Listen while you read: "A Child Of The King"1
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This year when I started to work in our rock garden, I decided to take out about half of it that had been taken over by Gooseneck Loosestrife. Doesn't the name tell you that it doesn't know how to play nice? When we moved here ten years ago, this plant was well contained and added a lot to the garden. Its white gooseneck-shaped blooms were just what was needed in this space because of a lack of other plants. Every year, these bullies have spread and spread, much to my displeasure. Last year my lilies were crowded out, Astibles were crying uncle, and the Hosta plants were fighting a battle for their lives. I googled the monsters, and one article described them as thugs and mobsters. One of the worst things about them is that they spread through a network of roots or rhizomes that never give up. Even though I pulled many plants and even dug out roots, I now see a new crop coming up. What tenacity!
As I often do, I put this scenario in the light of Scripture and found that roots are mentioned several times in the Bible.
1 Timothy 6:10a – For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. (NIV)
Whew! I'm glad that I don't have a lot of money! But wait! If I replaced money in that verse with other things like power, or recognition, or you name it, it can be anything that we put before the Lord in importance. I don't have to look too far to see where roots run deep and choke the life out of a happy heart.
Sometimes, dreadful things take us over like addictions, power hunger, or sin, but sometimes, it can be normally good things that become more important to us than God. God reminded me that lately, I have found myself being discontented. I look at my perfectly good furniture and want new. I love retirement, but have found myself discontented with not having enough money to do all the things that I would like to do. Because my mind is on things that I do not have, I have found myself not appreciating what I do have.
Colossians 2:6-7 – So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (NIV)
Let's look at our root system to see what is taking root in our heart. As Christians, we would do well to recognize that the physical tenacity and scope of Gooseneck Loosestrife in gardens should more than be matched and countered by the tenacity and growth of the spiritual roots of our lives in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Thank You, God that You know that our tendency is to root ourselves in the things of this world which choke out Your will for our lives. May our roots instead grow deep and wide in Christ, more than the rhizomes of the Gooseneck Loosestrife. Strengthen us in the faith as the Bible teaches us. Amen.
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About the author:
Jeanie Nihiser <jnihiserj@gmail.com>
Geneseo, New York, USA
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Thanks for the good word, Jeanie. Sounds worse than kudzu.
Thank you so much. Jeannie.
What a wonderful comparison!
Thanks, once more Jeanie, for your devotional.
Keep writing!!!
You have painted a wonderful picture of imperative truth Jeanie! Blessings.
Thank you, for I believe we all feel as you do, and the lesson was timely for me!
Love of things makes us want more things. Stop and remember your blessings and praise God for His loving care.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging and informative devotional with us today. To God be the glory! Blessings.
Ha! We have purple loosestrife arriving in southern Manitoba. It is an invasive species that clogs waterways and chokes out native species while looking pretty.
So true! Good luck with your project. At our church right now we are focusing on creation. A tree is often a symbol of a sturdy root system, isn’t it? But having battled with loosestrife, I have come to the conclusion that it’s not the size or height of the trunk that controls the root system. I’m thankful my roots are in Jesus!
(Manitoba)
Wow Jeanie, you have written a great analogy today and sounds like you have quite a job to deal with in your garden area. May the Lord give you the strength and patience to deal with getting rid of those undesired plants.
Your words are “right on” that we can get so easily distracted in our thoughts and stray from focusing on God’s word and direction. Blessings for these very special writings you prepare.
Good morning, Jeannie,
A great message with a good example that most gardeners will definitely understand having faced the problem of aggressive roots with some plants. I enjoyed your honest sharing of how you feel sometimes and how it gets in the way of enjoying what you do have. I think the starting point is noticing what is getting in the way of your faith so that you can move past it and grow.
I like to start each day with an attitude of gratitude even remembering the basic things like eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell, hands to feel, and being able to talk. It truly does make me thankful for all that God has provided. Thanks for sharing. Blessings.