Thursday, October 22, 2009

The parable of the splotchy grass...

The other day I was coveting my neighbors lawn,
which is the most PERFECT patch of grass I have ever seen.
Maybe it has something to do with him mowing it every other day, using scissors to trim the strays, fertilizing it weekly and observing it each night.
(mind you he is a retired gentleman).
I thought, "Why the heck does my grass look all splotchy and not perfect like his?"
So I walked on over and said, "Tell me your secret, how, how, how do you do it?"
He smiled at me and said, "I am raising grass, you are raising children."
I thought he is right.
For such a short time,
I won't have perfect grass, but I will have happy children prancing all over it.
I won't have clean walls, but I will have children wiping their messy hands all over it.
I won't have clean glass doors or windows, but I will have my children's eager faces pushed against them, awaiting the arrival of their daddy after a long days work.
So suddenly I realize I do like my imperfect grass because it means
I
am
raising
children
and the time will come when I will miss that.

So thank you my perfectly-perfect grass loving neighbor for sharing your secret.
Devote your time and energy to what you are raising and the outcome will be wonderful.

15 comments:

Pam said...

Great post! It reminds me of how I used to covet my neighbors beautifully manicured weed free gard beds, as ours was overflowing with weed goodness. But the I realized if I had the time my yard and garden would look the same.

Josh and Erika Thorne Family said...

:)

colleen said...

It's true! Enjoy what you're doing in the moment - it changes every day

The Hoskins said...

Is it wrong that your post made me tear up? Thanks for changing my perspective on my horrifying mess of a home. :)

Unknown said...

So true!!!

Cumorah said...

Thanks Becki - just what I needed to hear today!

Emily H said...

That made me a little teary eyed.

Wendy said...

Love it, that is so true. Love reading your blog.

Carrie said...

Hi Becky. I am Jen Carlson's sister and Cumorah and Dan's cousin. She put a link to your post on her blog and I just had to tell you thank you. That was so beautiful. Now I know why our lawn never looks as good as our neighbors. ;)
What an insiteful neighbor you have.

Trinette McCrary said...

Thanks for sharing. Let's put our two lawns together and we will have brown,green,and weeds-LIFE!!!

RaCHeL said...

perfectly said! Thanks for sharing that. I needed to hear that myself.

Tricia Lauritzen said...

So I have a list of all the blogs I love to visit and I just click down the list each week. I caught your story on Cumorah's blog first. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this story! I'm sending it in for my family letter. Really puts things into perspective! You are awesome.

Hendry Happenings said...

So beautifully spoken. Why am I crying?

Sheila Madsen said...

Oh, so true. You hava very wise neighbor. Time passes so quickly enjoy each day and treasure each moment with your children because in a twinkling they will be grown up, gone and having children of their own!!

Anonymous said...

This is so sweet. I am a stranger to you, but I am reposting a link to this on my blog. Thank you!!!