We get what we give

If you want something to grow, to it's fullest and best ability you have to tend to it, and care for it. I have these hydrangeas in my front yard, that I planted 2 years ago, when I brought them home they were beautiful, I think they each had only one flower on them, but I was determined to see them grow more. So I carefully planted them, just in the perfect places around every other flowers I had planted. The hydrangeas were my favorite, I cared for them the most and wanted them to be my showcase. I remember that year falling in love with them, going out everyday and watering them, and picking off bad parts, doing all that I could to make them their best, I thought about them all the time. They grew double by the end of the summer, each of them had many flowers, I remember people coming over and complimenting my little garden, I was so proud. Well fall, and them winter came, and I was not experienced in care for them, I just thought they would come back in the spring, and in spring they did. I remember going out and seeing the first buds, growing from the ground, I never took the time to care for them, like I did the year before, and they have never produced one single flower, yes they grew green, but not a single flower, this was so disappointing. I don't know if they have a chance now, but I know one thing, I never sought out to try, I just felt defeated, and overwhelmed all the work I did before, would I have to start all over again, is there a chance to save them, for next year. Alls I know it looks like a garden, no-one has been attending to it's fullest, for it's true beauty. I know that plant was intended to have flowers, so people would see it's beauty.

This is how I have been feeling about myself, and my relationship with God. Some times in my life, I am like that hydrangea, growing and seeing flowers, for all my hard work, and other times I am still planted, looking and feeling less then what I know I could be. As my hydrangea bush, It can grow on it's own,It still has all the things it needs, air, soil, rain, but it needs a gardener to help it be it's best. It needs to be attended to. My relationship with God needs daily tending to, and help from a gardener to help it be it's best. For the past month I have felt like I have been less then what I know I could be, but I decided no more, so I have been getting up and tending to relationship, everyday, I spend time listening to a song, and worshiping God, praying, reading his word, and spending time in a book that is changing my life. I feel like I am growing, and flowers are beginning to grow, that when people see me, they see me at my best. I wish sometimes it was easier, just as I wish my hydrangea bush would just grow flowers on it's own, but truth be told, it doesn't. We get what we give, and that is the truth in all area's of our lives.