Sunday thoughts and pictures

So, earlier this week I read an interesting post over on Faith in Ambiguity titled The Purpose of Weeds. First, I have to say that I love the way Tara's mind works. I always look forward to her posts and I can always find something in her words that makes me think, makes me look deeper into myself and reevaluate what I find there. The Purpose of Weeds is no exception. Tara takes a long look at something so mundane and equates it so beautifully to the human mind and spirit. A simple weed, an annoyance, a frustration, something to be pulled up and cast aside. Or are they? Certain weeds carry their own beauty, if we take the time to look for them. And those mental weeds, those endless circling worries and frustrations that grow in the dark places of my mind, what are they really and what do they say about me, to me? Tara says it far better than I can:

"Lying in bed with the thoughts I pull like weeds, I wonder what is their purpose. Are they out of nature, unholy, things to be cast aside—or are they instead the ugly nursemaids of my own nature, bringing up, from the deep, faint echoes of a source of truth I may not want to hear? Resentment, sadness, regret—seen in the correct light, are these not the pioneer plants, only first in succession to the restoration of a disturbed piece of mental land? Pull them out again and again and they come back, still trying to fill the emptiness that is always left behind. What courage and stillness would it take to allow them to spend their time, bringing life back to a damaged corner of my heart? To trust that later would come fuller plants, the shade of trees, the singing of birds—a system that was whole again?"

I hope you will go read the full post. I ended up printing it and putting it in my journal. I really think these are words I need to come back to and reexamine, to let them speak to me again. 

Speaking of weeds, yesterday the hubby and I went out to my mom's place and mowed. It was kind of a dreary day, with a cool bite in the air and some sprinkles to tease us into thinking it might rain. It never did, and all in all it wasn't a bad day. I took a ton of pictures, and some of them were of weeds. Seriously...and not on purpose. Just a happy accident! 

After I finished taking the pictures we mowed everything down. :(

I had to laugh at my hubby and my mom, who have become so used to me taking random pictures of anything that catches my eye (I took over 200 pictures yesterday, for example) that they don't even notice me anymore! They just keep doing their thing and let me do mine. I love my family!! 

And speaking of family, please keep my dad in your prayers. He is having some surgery tomorrow to remove a clot in his leg. He lives too far away from me, so I can't be with him. But God is with him and I have faith that He will bring him through safely. 

I want to leave you with one last thought, a scripture that has been nudging at my heart all week:

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Philippians 4:6

In every circumstance and in everything, with definite requests and thanksgiving, make your wants known to God. Tell him what you want, what you need. Be clear. Say what you mean. And be grateful for His love and His gifts in your life. Give him the gratitude of your heart, it is a gift to him. A precious and unique gift that only you can give. What a beautiful thing it is, this relationship He wants to share with us. He want s to know what we need, he wants to listen. And He wants to meet our needs. Don't give up, keep asking. Keep talking to Him and listening for His answer. You won't be disappointed if you don't give up.