“Don’t kill these mom!!” Those were the words my daughter spoke to  me yesterday as she handed me a pint of pink petunias. I quickly asked her, “What makes you say that?” She replied, “Mimi told me to say that to you.”

I love my little girl and my little girl loves her Mimi. And together they love to buy, plant and water flowers. An enthusiasm I do not share.

I’m not really sure why I dislike “gardening.” I think it probably has something to do with the fact that I’m terrible at it. I water too much, I water too little…either way, I have a tendency to kill all forms of plant life.

For you green thumbs out there (Hi Mom!), you guys think it’s so easy; and that is because you take the time and make the effort. 

I’ve only had these petunias for a day and you can already tell they’re on their way to plant heaven. And honestly I don’t feel too broken up about it (probably because I didn’t buy them).

What I find interesting is how quickly these flowers have begun to fade after only one day of neglect.

This got me thinking about my spiritual walk. When I let even one day go by without reading God’s Word, I find myself beaten down by the end of the day. I feel burnt out- like I have nothing left to give.

Just like these petunias begin to fade after one day of neglect, so will our ability to make wise choices if we don’t daily spend time with Him. If you’re like me, you’ll find every excuse as to why you cannot make time for the Lord.

But just like caring for these silly flowers, it’s a choice. We either take the time and make the effort, or we don’t. Gardening doesn’t come natural to me, but I’ll probably need to take time and make the effort because it’s important to my little girl. It’s a way to build our relationship and spend time together.

Isn’t it interesting that if the relationship means somethings to us, we’ll find the time and we’ll make the effort? How much more important is it then, that we make time for our Heavenly Father and King? After all, that’s the most important relationship in our lives. Let’s not kill it with neglect.

“Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”  Colossians 3:15-17 (The Message)