Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” Proverbs 13:4
I remember…in fact, I don’t think I can forget. This past spring, I spend a long day working in the yard. Generally speaking, I enjoy working in the yard…just not overwhelmed and all day. Let me just say that I am not as young as I used to be…and probably not as healthy as I ought to be. At any rate there was a job to be done so I jumped in. There were two things that needed to be done.
The first thing I did was to “deadhead.” Now you may already know what that means but just in case, here you go. In the fall, when all the green stuff dies it leaves this brown stuff. The green stuff is pretty—the brown stuff is not. You are supposed to cut the brown stuff in the fall, so it looks better all winter. The other reason for cutting it in the fall is that you don’t have to do it in the spring. Well, we were busy, we were lazy, we ignored it—it doesn’t matter—the bottom line was we had a bunch of deadheading to do. Bummer.
So that Saturday I deadheaded. Here’s the lesson—don’t put off today what you need to do till tomorrow. The problem or task may be even bigger, and it can even be more difficult. And frankly, tomorrow may never come. Every person gets 1440 minutes a day and if we are wise, we will use them wisely. Proverbs 13:4 says, “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” Ouch. Thanks Solomon! So, in a week or two or three, there will be deadheading to do. I need to remember last spring because this fall can make next spring—better. Remember each day is a gift…work for the kingdom, love someone—but do it now.
Now the other thing I did that Saturday was rake leaves—didn’t do that either last fall—see paragraph two above. But here’s the weird part. With the exception of a medium size maple tree and several crepe myrtles, I don’t have any trees. What? I’m raking leaves and I don’t have any trees—what kind of deal is that? Well, you see, my neighbors do. I get to rake their leaves every year. Now listen, I don’t mean just a few—I mean a lot. Not fair? Doesn’t matter—I still must deal with the leaves.
Lesson two is to remember that your “messy” will always end up in someone else’s life. Just as those leaves blow my way—so our “messy” finds its way into the lives of those around us. Remember that your sin is never just your sin. Also, instead of being bitter about someone’s “messy,” do the Jesus thing and forgive. After all, none of us are perfect and forgiveness just makes our life better.
So, I was tired—real tired—that spring Saturday but here it is fall again and I am faced with a decision. Will I make the most of these days so those spring days will be a little easier or will I procrastinate and pay the price next spring? I am hoping that I will be wise enough not to put off till tomorrow what needs to be done today. I hope I will remember that if I am wise next spring can l be—better. Oh, there was something good that came from that long Saturday, there was a good sense of accomplishment as I made up for last fall’s indiscretion. Well, you know what they say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And that is true. And you know they also say, “He’s got this” and that is definitely true. Bro. Dewayne
Grits with Grace 