Downsizing Your Yard

I get a lot of comments on the chapter in my book entitled “Discovering Your Lawn Language.” A lot of guys like the simple analogy of weeds growing amidst the grass likened to the sin in our hearts. Simple and we get it.

In the chapter, I talk about having the biggest yard, at that time, of all the four yards I’ve owned and how each home had a bigger yard. Well, if you read my post last week called “Extreme Life Makeover,” you know we’ve recently moved.

I intentionally bought the same size house, but on a much smaller lot. I wanted less yard to take care of. The first time I mowed it (My sons usually mow it.) I was thinking about that chapter and the lawn analogy and the fact that I intentionally down-sized my yard, but not my house.

Here’s what the Lord showed me in that moment and I suppose you could call this post/article, “Discovering Your Lawn Language 2.” There are times when our life doesn’t need to shrink, because often it can’t, i.e. responsibilities, commitments, demands, but the “yard we play in” needs to shrink. The area in which weeds can take over needs to decrease, so we aren’t tempted to just let our yard go.

Here’s an example: you are up to your everlovin’ neck in responsibility and trying to juggle the demands of life. You’re getting tired. You’re stressed. Maybe even a little numb. It’s time to pull in your boundaries tight. Be careful where you venture out to. With business relationships, other women besides your wife, TV, internet, places you go, conversations you have. When we get into the stressed mode and we keep our “yard” the same size or even allow it to get bigger, we could easily allow the weeds to take over and we can make a major mistake, possibly a fatal mistake.

You overwhelmed with life? Bills? Job? Demands? Relationships? Pull your life up tight around you. Think through who you’re with, where you go, what you hear, and what you allow your eyes to see. The state of stress can lead down a bad road, because we allow one mistake to dominate.

It’s ironic that the word “hope,” at least in the NIV, is in the Book of Job 18 times. In Job!

Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him! Listen carefully to my words; let your ears take in what I say. Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated. —Job 13:14-18