THE CRACKED ACORN: Spring

Spring is peeking out from woods and the byways. Approiate clothing for those soon-to-be sunny days have already been in the stores for many weeks. Forsynth, crocus, and daffodils are very close to heralding another change of season. Soon snow, sleet, ice and the wintry mix will be just another memory. It is time to check out that new barbecue grill. It will look good out on the freshly painted deck. You can almost taste those tangy hamburgers and hotdogs. Hula hoops and plastic swimming pools are stacked just inside the doors of all the majors retailers. Prices are posted “ON SALE!” and spring has arrived. Snow blowers, salt, sand, and shovels have retreated to the far corners of the store. This is the time for a good bargain but my garage cannot hold any more end of the season urges.

The deer are coming by nightly to check out lawn and garden to see if I have rushed the warmer weather with recently set out shrubs and garden plants. They are looking for desserts. Last year they nibbled everything even the rhubarb. Yes, it is all coming back now. The great out-of-doors, where aching backs and blisters await, where the world has rotated to reveal the beckoning finger to once again take a defensive position on our bit of earthly land. It is the time to begin to think of warring against the unknown and bone up on what alien invaders present a threat to the homeland of clipped grass and tasty fruits and vegetables. We know that we must show true grit with hoe and tiller puffing out its noxious fumes adding to the greenhouse warming effect. We who have had our finest moments in the blazing midday sun, know we will never give up till fall shall come and the frost hits our vicious opponents. So, be on your guard: alder, clover, beggartick, thistle, broomweed, carpetweed, chickweed dogbane, wild garlic, poison oak, pigweed, flebane, sorrel, wild rose, tanweed, tarweed, wooly morning glory, yellow rocket, and all of the other 240 kinds of bad weeds and grasses that will try to smother our outdoors efforts.

When I look out over my 1/2 acre, I feel like Sir Winston Churchill,

“I shall go on to the end, to fight on sea and ocean,and to fight with growing confidence and strength,that I shall defend this tiny kingdom whatever the cost. This struggle will be carried to the edge of the streets,adjoining fields, even to the close by hills. I shall never surrender even if I am subjugated and starving, until in God’s good time, this new lawn and garden with its fresh won glory will step forth to succor me in my pool of blood, toil, tears, blisters and sweat.”

Brother Paul never had a lawn and garden but he did know about the perils of life!
See:(Galatians 5:19-24)

Whatever work we are involved in, remember God is on our side.

SOLDIERS OF CHRIST ARISE AND PUT YOUR ARMOR ON: STRONG IN THE STRENGTH WHICH GOD SUPPLIES THRO’ HIS BELOVED SON. STRONG IN THE LORD ON HOSTS AND IN HIS MIGHTY POW’R,WHO IN THE STRENGTH OF JESUS TRUSTS IS MORE THAN CONQUEROR. LEAVE NO UNGUARDED PLACE NO WEAKNESS OF THE SOUL;TAKE EVERY VIRTUE,EVERY GRACE, AND FORTIFY THE WHOLE. THAT HAVING ALL THINGS DONE,AND ALL YOUR CONFILCTS PAST,YOU MAY O’ER COME THRO’ CHRIST ALONE, AND STAND ENTIRE AT LAST. (SACRED SELECTIONS)