HSBC Coffeebreak

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Sometimes I think I am a farmer at heart. Everywhere I have lived I find myself wanting to grow things. Generally my plants flourish with little effort. When we moved onto acreage in the country with little water and topsoil, I knew that I would have to set aside my passion for gardening until we were better established.

Before long, I was bringing in flowers that had their origin in the first home that my parents bought, and then it was yellow roses from Grandma’s yard, and more flower starts from our last yard. Mom helped me out by bringing a few trees from her yard and other plant starts. Oh, how delighted I was! Now I could be happy.

Morning after morning I discovered that my plants were being eaten, sometimes clear to the ground. Mule deer were the culprit, so I set out to find deer resistant plants. To my surprise, the mule deer that live in my neck of the woods eat anything and everything! They would even come during broad daylight when I was outside and start eating my plants. I threw rocks at them; I blew my gym whistle as loudly as I could to scare them away and they just stared at me. Knowing that more powerful artillery was needed, I purchased a BB gun. Not just any BB gun, but the pump kind that would shoot BBs farther and harder than the average one. I soon found out that hitting deer broadside with a BB hardly fazed them. My next purchase was pellets for this gun; surely that would sting enough to scare them away.

After much frustration and loss of plants, the only solution was to fence in all of our plants. My husband spent quite a bit of time getting all of my plant protection in place. I was so excited that spring and planted many new starts and even a few vegetables in between the flowers. I still didn’t have a full fledged garden, but I was rejoicing over what I had. Now, I could be happy and give thanks.

Lo and behold, my plant protection was not enough. The wild rabbit’s cute, little baby bunnies found ways to get through the fencing and enjoyed my fresh lettuce. Where the bunnies wouldn’t go, the chipmunks did! I hadn’t realized that spinach was a favorite of theirs.

I hated the frustration and the battle of finding ways to keep my plants. When I read I Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I thought how can I give thanks when the animals are winning this battle and eating all the things that bring me pleasure? I was still waiting to have things my way, then I would be joyful and give thanks.

One evening while sitting at our picnic table enjoying a wonderful dinner with my husband, we watched many birds come to feed or bathe in the bird bath; we could see the baby bunny trying to find a new hole to get to the lettuce; behind us the chipmunk was checking out the flower boxes on his way to eat bird seeds that had fallen to the ground; a mule deer in velvet crept in to drink from the bird bath that was only a few feet away, following close behind was a doe. Recalling I Thess. 5:18, I was faced with a choice. Would I choose frustration because I couldn’t control all the circumstances in my yard, or would I see the beauty and wonder in these creations of God’s and choose to rejoice and give thanks?

As I chose to take my eyes off of myself and look to God, then around me, I was filled with awe at the beauty that surrounds me every day, the mountains, green trees, fresh air, singing birds and quiet critters. God had created a dinner ambiance far beyond anything I ever could. It was there for my taking if I would only choose it. I didn’t have to plant it, water it, weed it, or fence it in. God had done all of the work and would continue to sustain it.

When I choose to acknowledge that God is in control and choose to see the work of His hand around me, I can’t help but to rejoice and give thanks. Then I am truly happy.

Lord, life is always best when you are in control. – Amen

Written by
Liz Anderson