What the Parsley Teaches Me

It is the end of November and snow is starting to fall. After ripping out the last of the garden--a lifeless tomato plant and some frost-shriveled marigolds--I thought it was done until spring. Only an empty plot of soil remained. Then last week, amongst the dead leaves, I spotted some green. Something was growing, despite the freezing nighttime temperatures. The parsley that I never harvested because it looked so anemic and frail all summer long now looks full of vigor. In this weather? Its hardy growth must hold a lesson somewhere. So I've been meditating and pondering. Parsley in November...

Could it be that the harsh weather that put an end to the rest of the garden somehow gave this little plant a chance to become stronger?














My grandparents lived through the Great Depression. The adversities they faced then and throughout their lives, along with their deeply-rooted faith, have doubtless shaped them to be the hardy, admirable souls they are today. They live simply, within their means. They garden. They pray. They are generous. They have been blessed with great-grandchildren and long life. When I think of my heritage, it is simple, deep, and rich. Not rich in worldly wealth, but in wisdom, joy, and wonder. My grandparents epitomize the simple path I aspire to choose. I should tell them that while I still have the chance.

Missing Out on the Joy of Giving

Food banks and bell ringers are kicking it into gear this November. As charities seem more desperate than ever this holiday season, I find my inclination is to be tight-fisted at times. After all, given the recession and the financial tightrope we are walking, how can we give any more?

I'm thankful for my husband's commitment to give of our firstfruits, no matter what. I'm not sure I would be quite so committed and disciplined if the charitable giving were up to me. I am ashamed at the thought that I can actually hold on to what is not even mine. And how different are these thoughts from the average American Christian?

Ron Sider discusses "stingy Christians in an age of opulence" in his article, "A Lot of Lattes", which reviews a new book analyzing giving patterns. How different am I from those who claim to have faith, but don't put their money where their mouth is?

The simpler the task, the harder it is to do well

It's remarkable really, that I know how to blog, do social networking, post classified ads, and purchase products online, yet the simplest of tasks--going to bed at a reasonable hour--I cannot seem to do on a regular basis.

My thoughts on the trouble of going to sleep were captured almost perfectly by a recent Momsense article by Susan Bezse Wallace that I found via an e-mail newsletter.

In the article, she poses the questions "What do you do after the kids are in bed? What should you do?" She then proceeds to admonish me to "consider whether your nighttime activities are helping or hurting you the next day." Well, I certainly have done that, but bad habits are hard to break. Still, I shall try to take her advice to heart. I plan to print out the article and post it near (or on!) my ever-tempting computer.