Lessons from a Garden 17

Lesson 17: Thinning the plants

One of the most difficult lessons from my garden was that of thinning the plants. The instructions on the seed packets said to sow liberally, then after the plants began to grow to thin out the weaker ones so that the stronger plants would not be crowded out. To uproot plants that were quite healthy and were doing what that were designed to do was difficult. I felt sorry for them because they were being uprooted for no reason of their own. I had to learn not to be so sentimental about my plants.

In our Christian life we can sometimes be so eager to serve the Lord and the Church that we crowd our life with too many good things. As a result nothing that we do mounts to much. It is better to do a few things well than to do many things shoddily. If we try to do too much too quickly the result is that very little gets done properly. And we can get burnt out. We need to weed out some things so we can do those things that we do best. No one can do everything. Don’t feel guilty because you have to say no to some things. Concentrate on using the gifts God has given you.

Romans 12:6-7

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;