by Phyllis Ducey
pfdoriginalartworks


I'm starting this on Tuesday and the day is almost over. Wednesday is a few hours away. That will zip and be gone. Before I realize it I will be overwhelmed with Thursday because the week is almost over and I know I'll never get all my work done by the end of the day Friday. Then I say "yeah" it's the weekend and on Monday when asked what I did, it was all a blur that had gone by much too fast.... then it all happens all over again, and again and again. A never ending spiral?

Sometimes I feel like it is. Like I am spinning my wheels not going anywhere. When I had toddlers it was change diapers, breakfast, dishes (no dishwasher back then but if you had unexpected company in a small kitchen the oven worked well for storing dirty dishes), laundry, picking up, fixing drinks, snacks, playtime, picking up, lunch, play time, nap time (whew!) , picking up, (oops get dishes out of oven before starting dinner) dinner... you get the idea, right? Now it is work, laundry, clean house, cook dinner (or order out) ... another world of spirals!

You can almost see how people who get so depressed want to give up. Their spiral can be overwhelming, especially when you combine it with financial problems, abuse or addictions. To me it all comes down to where your focus is. If it is all about "me" than that spiral pulls me in dragging me along into its never ending center.

When I am so full of myself - either positively or negatively - I am not bearing fruit. Why? Because I am focusing on me. I may be doing so wonderfully great that I forget I need the Lord or I may be so overwhelmed I wallow in my self pity (and yes I do that periodically). Either way, I am not focused on the Lord... I am not remaining in Him.


I love the comparison of the vine. I can relate to it, maybe because I love plants. If I were a branch on the vine, I would get my nourishment from the main plant and its strong roots. If I am cut from the vine or break off, I loose my life source. Same thing with the Lord. I get my life source though Him, the roots that bring nourishment to me is the Bible, His word. The more I focus on God's word and Him, the more sense my life makes.

I may still be doing the same things... following repeated patterns of daily life but I find I extend myself to others more. I pray more. I understand that there are eternal consequences to my actions (or my lack of actions). I realize my Creator God has a reason for me. And as I remain in Him, He blesses me with fruit... or even better, He allows me to bless others.

Isn't it wonderful to have a God who loves us so much that He keeps us close and prunes us when needed? I know so many who refuse to acknowledge or accept Him, they continue their meaningless spiral and for those I pray they would know the wonder of the God that I love so dearly and loves me, you and them.

by Phyllis Ducey
pfdoriginalartworks



The air has a sweetness, a reviving freshness in its breezes. The sun is bright as I have seen it all year playing hide and seek within the billowing clouds while kindly bestowing its warmth on me. The soil is cool and damp… waiting to be tilled, waiting for the worms to do their job of aerating, waiting for roots to grasp it while clinging to absorb its moisture.

And I dig in, stir it all up. Breaking the clumps while I comb the topsoil with the rake preparing the way for my plants. Removing the rocks and old useless roots from last years plants that will no longer reveal their awesome colors; removing the debris that will be in the way of this new season’s growth. All done with care to replace the worms so they may continue their toil. I work to build up the soil with manure and mulch to prepare.

I trim my bushes, eliminating the old growth to encourage new. I have found there is an art to trimming the bushes and trees. I know that trimming them in the wrong season could damage their growth or flowers in the spring. I look to remove the suckers – the shoots that try to take over without producing anything good or adding to health of the plant.

Hours and hours I prepare

… for the perennials to sprout anew, bigger and fuller than any season prior

… prepare

…for the annuals to display their glorious beauty

…prepare

….for my bushes to revive, to flourish and strengthen.

Oh my sweet plants. Some in yellows so bright you can see them from the street, some in deep reds, some in whites with hints of gentle pink and the palest of purple in the heart of them where the bees will seek their nectar. Some I plant for the colors, some for the scents, some for height and some just to enjoy the leaves… the variety of greens that create depth to the landscape. Each delights me in its own unique way.

It is a labor of love that brings vitality to my body as I am nurtured by the fresh air into my lungs and by my muscles receiving power from my exertion. I not only prepare my garden to grow and thrive I am preparing my body to be healthy and well. It brings a joy to my heart as I watch my plants develop and bear the fruit that they were designed to grow; each having its own purpose.




My answer is always the same: yes. He must. If He did not, why would He send His Son to die in my place so I could draw near to Him?

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11