Monster Thistles and Baby Trees

Every summer I have a job that I don’t like.

I pull thistles… big, tall, ouchy thistles!

In 2009, we bought a big field with a beautiful view. It had tall grass and pretty wildflowers, but it didn’t have trees.

The government offered free trees to people who would plant a shelter belt (long rows of shrubs and trees), so I sent in the forms, and they promised to send me caraganas, willows, maples, and evergreens.

Well, when something is free from the government, you shouldn’t get your hopes up. 

Even though we didn’t live at that property, one snowy spring morning, someone dropped a cardboard box at the side of the road. I was notified that my trees had been delivered and that I needed to plant them right away.

We drove two hours from our home to our property to save our trees and were quite surprised to discover the bundles of tiny twigs we had been given. 

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We plowed long rows and planted our twigs.

The next summer, when we came to camp on our property, we discovered that our field grew something else – thistles! We had long rows of waist-high thistles!

My summer job began.

I slowly walked the long rows, searching for my baby trees. Carefully, I’d pull the thistles from around each one.

Two hours of thistle-pulling per day was all I could handle.

My poor baby trees didn’t get much water or much care. Many died. Many were chewed down by deer. 

Even though we now live on our property, some of my baby trees are still very tiny.

But I notice changes. There are fewer thistles. And as the grass grows in, the thistles pull more easily.

Some trees are finally taller than me!

Even though I know that there are still many thistles in our field, and even though I know that some of my baby trees are struggling, I love this property… and so I keep pulling thistles.

Now, pretend my field is ME.

The tall grass and wildflowers are the gifts and talents God gave me.

The baby trees are the good habits that I try to grow.

But I was born into sin. That’s the thistles.

The thistles want to take over.

I need a good owner – someone who loves me and can pull the thistles. 

If I choose God and give my life to Him, He’ll water my baby trees and admire my wildflowers. He’ll pull my thistles, and He won’t ever get tired. 

In fact, He knows about every single thistle, but He loves me completely. 

The Lord your God is with you… He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)