I abandoned a plant in my office that seemed to struggle no matter what I did to care for it. Every day I look at it and touch the crumpled leaves feeling disappointed. At times I would think about what it needed and even vowed to repot it with fresh soil. It still sits…wilting. This has frustrated me more than I care to admit because I truly like plants and gardens. I planted my first garden in the center of my parents back yard when I was barely a teenager. I planted corn, carrots, and peas not knowing how to grow anything. Some seeds were successful and some where not but my enjoyment for gardening and plant life was born. This joy was carried into my spiritual development, as I often enjoyed the imagery layered throughout the Bible of seeds and gardens and harvests. But now I am glaring at this wilted plant feeling annoyed so I did what felt right. I literally placed it in a corner and turned by attention to something more productive.
Yesterday, while staring at this wilting plant, God dropped something very convicting in my spirit. THIS IS A PATTERN. A cycle within my life as well as some of the clients I’ve counseled. This cycle is prevalent within relationships. When someone is not responding to the investment we’ve made, or when we feel inadequate, they are quickly moved to the back burner. Often we can see what the relationship needs in order to heal and even to thrive but we’ve grown frustrated and put our energy elsewhere.
I’ve felt led to begin exploring relationships on the podcast and begin dealing with these cycles.
Look for more on relationships in the August Episodes of Faith Love and Therapy. Get your journals ready!
Faith Love and Therapy Podcast 