Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Write an INSPIRATIONAL or DEVOTIONAL piece (04/26/07)
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TITLE: The Roar of the Dandelions | Previous Challenge Entry
By Catrina Bradley
05/02/07 -
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The first gardening season my husband and I spent in our new home, we followed the advice of an expert…sort of. That spring we had him apply weed control stuff on our newly dug planting beds, and to my amazement, no weeds grew amongst the tender Jack Frost lisgustrum and infant Blue-Rug juniper. We were overjoyed until we noticed that the weeds had merely packed their bags and moved to our lawn.
My husband took control of the situation immediately. A trip to the hardware store netted him weed killer and a sprayer. “We will eradicate the invaders!” I busied myself out back while he went to work in the front yard, pacing to and fro zapping weeds.
He was almost finished when I came to check on his progress and offer him a cold drink. I relaxed in the rocker to enjoy the coolness that inhabits our porch, and absently picked up the weed killer bottle. I was curious which brand he’d chosen. Ok, and I admit, I also wanted to double-check that he read the label right.
I couldn’t believe what the words said.
I read it again.
Then I traced the words with my finger as I read them a third time.
“Honey! Hey, Bo!”
“Yo! What up?”
“Yo, did you read this bottle close?”
“Yah, it says weed killer.”
“Yah, it does. Weed and GRASS killer.”
“What? No. No it doesn’t.” Bo sprayed another weed, and the grass around it in a five-inch diameter.
“Stop! Stop spraying!” I was on my feet, my view encompassing the entire front lawn, one weed at a time.
Within a week, a huge patch of brown grass surrounded each dead weed.
Within a month, our lush front lawn was marred by the missing pieces of a sod puzzle. It took much longer than that summer for those holes to fill in.
The next season, a passer-by would have deemed our front grass desperately in need of help, but we had survived an entire year of open wounds caused by our own inept efforts. We were strong enough now to hold our heads high and pretend it didn’t bother us. We could even laugh at our blunder and ourselves. Under-riding our best efforts, though, was the undercurrent of shame. We had known better and still messed up.
Throughout that long, second season, we watched Bermuda runners creep into the gaps, slowly at first, but then in multitude.
By the end of the third season, the holes no longer existed.
But, I knew that would happen. I knew from the day of the siege on the sod the lawn would eventually be made whole again. I had faith that the Bermuda would do the same thing it’s been doing since it was created – creep and spread and fill.
Still, I fretted, and stewed, and blamed. I didn’t like the fact that I had to wait, and let all who passed by my house see what fools we were.
The fourth season, we called the expert back in.
Now, years later, neighbors drive by and see a lush front lawn. Virtually weed free, well maintained. We didn’t make the mistake of not staying in contact with the expert.
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power is his forever and ever. Amen
1 Peter 5:8-11 (NLT)
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