Spring is officially here and I couldn’t be happier. I love this time of the year when Winter’s drab colors begin to disappear beneath the brushstrokes of Spring’s colorful palette. I also enjoy this season because my neighbors and I emerge from hibernation to nurture our respective lawns back to health. That means getting our lawnmowers and garden tools in order, purchasing mulch and fertilizer, and making a trip to the garden center to add some color to the flower beds.
I do take a measure of pride in resuscitating my lawn in the Spring by taking practical steps to get my grass as green as possible. Doing so means choosing the right fertilizer and iron supplements, watering on a schedule, and keeping a close eye on my lawn for any signs of disease or insects. Every Spring I am as diligent about checking on the health of my lawn as the parent of a newborn is about fussing over the health and welfare of their child.
I must confess that I also take notice of how lush and green my neighbors’ lawns are. Some of my neighbors do a better job than others of keeping up with their lawns. I am especially motivated by those that have the greenest grass. I want to know the why and how and what of it all and often will walk across the street to engage them in conversation. But, there is one thing I have never done when I have felt that the grass was a little greener on the other side — I have never moved to the other side.
The reality is that the grass is seldom that much greener on the other side. And, if it is, it is only because someone has taken the time to do the things that make grass greener. I determined a long time ago that I can either long after greener pastures or become a better gardener. I am convinced that no matter what side of the street we live on, we can all make our own grass greener by tending, watering, fertilizing, and caring for our own lawns. It’s really a simple equation: the grass is greenest where it is watered.
Whether we are talking about our lawns, our jobs, or our marriages, the grass will not be that much greener anywhere else. One reason the grass does appear to look greener to us at times is because we tend to value what we want more than what we have. As for me, I prefer to water my own grass and to make the place where I live, the job that I have, and my marriage the greenest and healthiest thing around. If I will be faithful to do that, then I will always live on the greenest side of the fence.
Go Beyond 
Like the saying, “It’s all good!”…… I will change it and say, “It’s all green!”
That’s a great analogy Bro. Garcia!!!
By: John Tracy Richardson on March 21, 2013
at 11:32 PM
Thanks, John.
By: Omar C. Garcia on March 21, 2013
at 11:35 PM
Excellent word of encouragement Omar! Grateful for you! Shoby
By: Shoby John on March 22, 2013
at 7:24 AM
Thanks so much, Shoby.
By: Omar C. Garcia on March 22, 2013
at 7:25 AM
I loved how you made your message so visually vibrant….I so relate to someone speaking in pictures! Cannot wait to send this on…..Thank you for a wonderful message!
By: Kim Miller on March 22, 2013
at 7:41 AM
Thanks, Kim. And thanks also for sharing this post with others. I appreciate it.
By: Omar C. Garcia on March 22, 2013
at 7:45 AM
I’m so happy to hear that in between all your travels, you take the time to re-charge and enjoy your own “habitat.” Also, there are some interesting analogies here.
You can apply corn gluten meal to your lawn and flowerbeds, to kill many of the weed seeds before they germinate. In addition, It nourishes and promotes growth, just as the gospel does when you spread it in the lives of children in their formative years . It helps to keep evil from taking root in their lives, and encourages positive growth.
Also, just like spreading the gospel, you can apply dry molasses to your lawn and flowerbeds, which is much better than a chemical fertilizer. Chemicals give a quick flash of growth, like many of the promises that come our way in life, then wear out easily, and they often destroy much of the natural life in the soil. Dry molasses sweetens the soil, and encourages the growth of beneficial organisms, like the gospel sweetens our spirit and encourages the growth of the fruits of the spirit. It also repels unwanted pests, such as fire ants, just like the gospel arms us to repel the power of Satan in our lives.
This may be a homespun analogy, but I’ve kept an organic yard for a long time, and these thoughts always come to my mind at this time of year.
By: Lanni Fish on March 22, 2013
at 9:44 AM
Thanks for your comment, Lanni. Love the wisdom you have shared. Thanks.
By: Omar C. Garcia on March 22, 2013
at 10:08 AM
May be used when it’s my turn again to lead devotion in my worship staff meeting! Great lesson to get us thinking. Now to find scripture to go with…
Thanks!
By: Mary Quin on March 22, 2013
at 9:52 AM
Thanks, Mary. I’ve got lots of suggested verses. Let’s talk at the office.
By: Omar C. Garcia on March 22, 2013
at 10:09 AM
This is an especially good one for our every day lives. Thank you for the gentle reminder.
By: Marcia Frith on March 30, 2013
at 3:52 PM
Thanks, Marcia.
By: Omar C. Garcia on March 30, 2013
at 3:55 PM