Tip of My Iceberg

It’s been brought to my attention (thanks TM) that I haven’t been totally forthcoming in acknowledging my husband’s efforts in our moves to tame our crazed landscaping that has plagued the front of our house.

For the record, this has been a team effort. Something we’ve chosen to do together because we’ve both been disgusted with the overzealous growth of our hedges. John has actually prodded me to cut them back for quite awhile. Timing is everything. I became enamored with a pair of clippers that made the job more fun.  I went from a little trimming to complete destruction of the hedges. John was in total agreement.

Recognizing that I wasn’t alone in this endeavor gave me more confidence than was probably good. One week after felling the hedge on one side of the walkway, I attacked the funky bushes on the other side. Bushes that smelled like root beer but never really grew beautifully. They grew. Just not in the lush continuity the HOA expects.

I was out there early, in my snowman jammie bottoms and sweatshirt (it does get chilly in Florida) hacking away with those sweet clippers. Being an earlier riser than John, he found me in my destroy-the-landscape mode. He took the clippers.

What I began, he finished. Team Green Destructo.

I’ll confess that there are times when I don’t feel like I’m in cahoots with John at all. When I’m absorbed in my little world and doing things my way. When team playing isn’t working for me because I want what I want. When I don’t want to engage him in the planning because I’m afraid he won’t agree with me.

Even though I know Jesus and I are on the same team, there are times I leave Him out of the plan as well. Because I know He won’t agree with me. I want to choose my way. For my reasons. Because in the moment those reasons feel good.

The children of Israel felt that way. They’d wandered the wilderness for 40 years, been promised a land that had more than enough to provide for their needs. A land they could finally call their own. Moses reminded them that, when they got to this great place, their tendency would be to forget God and what He’d done.

“When God, your God, ushers you into the land He promised…you’re going to walk into large, bustling cities you didn’t build, well-furnished houses you didn’t buy, come upon wells you didn’t dig, vineyards and olive orchards you didn’t plant. When you take it all in and settle down, pleased and content, make sure you don’t forget how you got there–God brought you out of slavery in Egypt.”   Deuteronomy 6:10-12

John and I are a team in our marriage. It works best when we both recognize that. Respect that. Engage life that way.

I’m on a team with God as well. Part of His family. A better place with Him than without Him. What I have and who I am is a result of His goodness towards me. My life is richer with more hope with Him in it. Because He knows intimately who I am and what I need.

I can get onboard with that kind of team playing.