Trial and Error

I tried something new in my garden this year. Actually, I tried several new things in my garden this year, but right now I am thinking about the Ruby Kisses.

According to the seed catalogue, coreopsis, aka Ruby Kiss, is one of the most squirrel repellent flowers available. After losing most of my tomatoes to squirrels and chipmunks last year, I was in for adding these lovely sounding plants to my garden.

The problems started when the seed packet arrived. For some reason I can’t now recall, I started these flowers in trays on my kitchen table. Surely I did not read that I should start these flowers this way – what a disaster! After purchasing seed trays and potting soil, I dutifully surrendered my kitchen table to the process. Soon, towels also covered my table, to protect it from the excess or errant water and ever-present dirt. Most didn’t come up, but little green sprouts crowded a few of the pots. So I got some larger pots, biodegradable ones that I could put right in the soil when the time came. I only killed about half the plants in the transplanting process.

By the time I was ready to plant my tomatoes, I had about 8 two-inch tall plants to add to my garden. Definitely not worth the effort and mess. I would buy some marigolds when I bought the tomatoes. Although not as effective, according to google, they were pretty and available and mostly grown, so I bought the marigolds.

Just for kicks, I also planted my struggling Ruby Kiss seedlings in among the tomatoes and marigolds. I mean, why not?

Now it’s hard to tell if I am growing tomatoes or wildflowers. No squirrels, but what a mess!

The beauty of a garden is that I now know not to pursue Ruby Kisses in the future.

If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.

Sometimes, I just have to learn things the hard way, by trial and error.

You know what else, besides Ruby Kisses, that is not good for my garden? Resentment. I had to learn that one the hard way, too. I had nurtured it along, feeling it was justified; transplanted it into bigger pots like my family and friends; spilled dirt all over my kitchen table. What a mess. Just have to dig that up and never plant it again.

Condescension is a lot like Ruby Kisses as well. I sense it will protect me, but soon it is overshadowing my fruit. When others look at my garden, is that all they see? Maybe a tomato hidden in there somewhere?

The beauty of the life, and particularly life with Christ, is that we get a new garden every day.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24.

Perhaps, instead of trying to justify why I am growing Ruby Kisses in my garden, I should be grateful for the lesson learned. Instead of feeling guilty about my errors, I should simply uproot the plant and move forward; see this as a learning moment (a test?). Have I let sin grow in my life just as I have let Ruby Kisses grow in my garden? How much more lovely would my garden be if I could just admit it and move on?

What a gift that God allows us to try and fail. What a gift that God gives us the opportunity to try again, to have a re-do, a make-up test. What a difference it would make if I could look at test results and see not where I failed, but where I could improve.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.

God loves us. We do not need to have a perfect garden for Him to love us; He already does.

We do not need to ace a test; I think we never will this side of heaven. God wants what is best for us. He wants to grow joy and peace and love in our gardens, in our lives. If we mess up occasionally and plant some Ruby Kisses, He forgives us. I’ve learned my lesson. Thank You, Lord.

Betsy