After being married for over 30 years, one lesson I’ve learned is never assume you know what your spouse likes or wants for your anniversary. Several years ago, I remember telling my friend and prayer warrior at work, Sylvia, that my anniversary was coming up. She started brainstorming where I should take my wife and what I should buy her for this special occasion. I ignored her advice and just did what works best. I asked my wife, and she wanted a composter for the garden.
I did what all loving husbands would do. I tried to talk her out of it. I told her it was our anniversary. I tried to take her on a trip, find a romantic spot for dinner, and offered to buy her flowers. But my wife knew what she really wanted, so I lived in her preference, and we got a composter.
Now if you want an amazing spiritual metaphor for a dynamic marriage n’ ministry…try composting. Mix all the stuff God has given you and brought you through, and combine it with all the good stuff your spouse has been given and journeyed through. Blend it all together over time, let it season, and watch what God grows.
God has blessed us with four spirited, amazing sons. They’re all wired so differently. Some are incredibly detail-oriented and extremely organized. Some are fun-loving, spontaneous, and adventure-seeking. They’re bigger and stronger than us. They all have tender hearts. They’re each on a different path God is mapping out. Teaching. Training. Journeying. Helping. Giving. Preparing. Waiting and wondering for what God has next for them. Trying to live in the moment. Incredible cooks. Good athletes. Asking the tough questions. Not really fitting in anywhere. Loving God and people in such different ways. Yes, they get the best and worst of us whether we like it or not. But we are so thankful and so proud of our four sons. They’re fearfully and wonderfully made. World changers!
I know my theology is highly relational, and I love my family, but let’s get back to composting. This year I planted my small garden, but I took “the blend” from our composter and put it right where I planted the tomatoes and green peppers. I wanted to beef up the soil. And guess what happened. Whatever vegetables we ate, and sent the seeds through the composter, are now growing all over my garden. We have Jimmy and Jerry Gourd-like creatures growing all through the garden and up over the fence and heading in every direction. I’m only getting a few green peppers and tomatoes, but what an octopus-like, squashfest adventure we’re discovering.
Here’s the moral of the story. What you feed on grows. You can’t hide what you’re really feeding on. What you consume you become. It shows up in your dreams. It shows up in your thoughts. It impacts your decision making. It becomes your words and your ways. It’s what you spend your money on. It shows up in the lives of the next generations. It bears fruit and vegetables. And sometimes they talk back. They’ll love some of what you feed them, and they’ll spit out what they don’t like.
Be careful what you’re eating and digesting because it impacts what you feed those around you. Whatever you’re into will deeply impact those who are closest to you. Devour and digest and share God’s Word daily. Pursue holistic health no matter what it costs you. Follow and obey Christ regardless of the cost. Build long-lasting, loving relationships. Never stop investing in people and doing whatever God inspires you to do. And whatever you feed on and compost over time will grow.
What are you feeding on?
What’s your life growing?
If you don’t like what’s growing…change your feeding habits.