Are Our Souls Neglected?
When we were living in North Carolina, there was a house down the street from us that was always a mess. There were always toys and debris all over the front lawn, junk stacked high on the porch, mattresses tossed in the backyard, a weedy garden, falling down fence, and I’m fairly certain the garage doors were broken because they were always open. Whenever we passed it, we’d grumble and complain about how the homeowner didn’t take care of the home.
If you looked past all the neglect, it would be a beautiful house. It was a log cabin build with a big, beautiful porch. With a little love and hard work, it would look like a picturesque little property. Instead we cringed, because if the outside was so overgrown and unkempt, we could only imagine what the inside looked like.
See What a Little Love Will Do?
So because my husband and I now own a house and don’t live in a basement apartment anymore, I’ve recently become a plant mom. Up until now, my understanding of plants has been minimal; you plant it, water it, give it the right amount of sun or indirect sun, and let it do its thing. Seems like a simple equation, except it’s not. Because obviously, a plant can’t tell you what’s wrong, you have to troubleshoot it and wait for a positive result.
Making 2021 the Year of Our Secret Places
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite places to go was the library. Whenever I’d go, I’d always leave with a stack of books as long as my arms. My dad used to yell at me, saying, “You’re never going to read all those books in two weeks before you need to return them! Pare it down!” My mom would laugh and shake her head, knowing full well I’d gobble every book up. A few months ago, I remembered this part of my childhood and realized: Somewhere along the way, I got too busy to read.