The boys, they run fast. Arms swinging and legs kicking, they race down the trail.
Florida’s natural beauty surrounds us. The oaks are poised to dance, as if awaiting their future redemption. The palms tower impressively, providing shade from the sun. Having no pretense, the lands exists the way the Gardner laid it out.
My neighborhood is lined with palms, perfectly planned and everything put in place by a landscape architect. I once had an architect explain the design method of planting taller bushes up next to a house, smaller plants in front of those bushes, and then smaller flowers in the very front. The descending elevation of plantings creates balance for the eye. Examples of this landscape design are everywhere on my street. In front of each home, the grass is perfectly green and most of the trees stand together in odd numbers. Everything’s been planted with the intention of pleasing the eye of the beholder.
Many of us would prefer to live lives that are beautifully planned and laid out just way we like. I’ve made my own plans for my life, attempting to order it in a way that pleases me most.
But what if I lived my life contented, not wishing to be where the grass is greener? What if I actually thrived where God planted me–even if it’s in a wilderness?
My heart has fought a battle these past fifteen years. I’ve resisted where God planted my roots. I’ve argued against His plan saying that I wasn’t made for a tropical climate–this land of ocean waves, swaying palms, flip-flops, hot summers, and perpetual tan lines. I complain that I can’t relate to the culture and how could anyone want to live where there are no seasons?
The boys ran on ahead and I stood still, tilting my head back at the palms which seemed to point to the sky. I feel small and out of place here where nature shouts its praises. I long to feel that freedom, to simply live and thrive under the Gardner’s care. I want to live like the oaks that bend as they appear ready, just waiting for the sound of the last trumpet. Even the weeds sprout in brilliant color.
Until that day, these trees, they grow, they thrive, and they honor the Great Architect who planted them.
God planted me here but my heart resides elsewhere. What if the soil here is what my roots need most to grow? What if the place that seems greener to me only provides illusory joy? Will I find that true joy awaits in the wilderness and not in my perfectly planned and neatly landscaped life that I’ve long desired?
My Savior left a place He loved, a place of love and perfect selflessness. He left a royal throne and golden paved streets to live in a place of poverty. He grew where He was planted, glorifying the Father in every situation and circumstance. Having no home of His own, He gave thanks to the Father for His daily bread. Even when He came to the cup that brought Him great sorrow and distress, He took it and drank in obedience.
Sometimes it’s not a geographical location in which we resist being planted. God has placed me other in other situations in which I have resisted Him as well. Sometimes He plants us in places like a job, a church family, a ministry, a relationship, or even a spiritual gift. Each one of those situations are opportunities to grow and glorify Him. Yet, how often do we look at where we are and wish we were somewhere different? How often do we just go through the motions of surviving our time in a place, just waiting for the opportunity to leave?
What if by seeking to be somewhere else, I’m actually rejecting the loving hand of my Father? Aren’t I just orbiting my life around my own desires rather than the Son of Light?
I’m not where I want to be. But I’ve been placed here for a reason. When I remember all that my Savior gave up for me, I am humbled. What have I been willing to give up for Him?
It’s only when my heart is emptied of all my desires and those empty places are filled with Him alone that I can joyfully thrive where He’s planted me. And then I find, it doesn’t matter where I live geographically, because my true home resides with Him alone.
Counting the ways the Gardner plants and prunes (1465-1486):
A merciful and gracious Gardner who plants us exactly where we need to be
Hiking in the woods
Boys who love to run
Florida foliage
A dear friend who took some profile pics of me
caladiums on my front porch
venison stew with friends
smell of clean floors
fun of trying mochi
Starbucks new mocha cookie crumble frappucino–so good, yet so bad
getting my sister’s “save the date” in the mail
new book to read with my accountability group: The Pressure’s Off: Breaking Free from Rules and Performance
our swimming pool–gotta have one if you live in Florida:)
support and encouragement from friends
Starting our summer curriculum
Ethan’s successful end of the year evaluation for homeschool
A heart shaped blueberry in my cereal:)
The book of Revelation
Planning our girls weekend to the Here is Our God conference–can’t wait to hear Tim Keller and his wife speak!
New read aloud–Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Playing Uno with the boys
Linking up with:
Beautiful! I, for one, am so glad that you are planted here!
Awesome post!
Thanks! Looks like I’m planted here for a while!
You got to hear Tim Keller? Cool! Hope you’ll post some of what you heard.
I know what you mean–at times I feel a kind of holy restlessness. And it’s not always about my physical surroundings. I used to beat myself up about why I couldn’t find contentment in the situation where God placed me. I’m learning, though, ever-so-slowly, that these times of restlessness are opportunities to find satisfaction for my longings in Christ.
And venison stew? I made a pretty happening venison stroganoff the other day–my husband is a big time hunter.
Finding our satisfaction in Christ is what all of life is about. Some days the distractions of life keep me from moving forward. I haven’t been to the conference yet:) Soon though, and I’m sure I’ll write about it:)
Venison stroganoff sounds yummy!
This really spoke to my heart. Thank you.
Thanks! Blessings to you!
I’ve struggled with this in a certain area of my life and God always points me back to “learning to be content in every circumstance.” I’ve been working on this, but it’s like sweeping back the ocean sometimes! Thanks for your insightful words. They’ve encouraged me to trust God in the place I’m planted!
Sweeping back the ocean–that’s a good description! So thankful that He who made the oceans can strengthen us to keep going forward. Thanks for stopping by!
What a reality check: that when we are not content where God has placed us to think on what Jesus gave up to do God’s will. I know I have lived all my childhood and adult life overseas serving and moved to the US, now Southern California, 4 years ago. In my heart, I just don’t want to be here. Yet, I have to trust that God has just brought me to a different mission field. This was a good thought you gave me to meditate on today. Thank you.
Thanks! I wrote it to convict myself:) reminding myself of what Jesus gave up for me gets my mind focused on what really matters. Blessings to you!
Oh dear, how I can relate! I’ve resisted my geographic area for at least 9 years. I tried desperately, on numerous occasions, to get us back home and back to my old friends. I spent a long time being angry at God for not allowing “my plan” to come to fruition. Now when I see my obvious disobedience, I’m filled with shame. I shudder to think how many blessings I wasted because I was blind to His gifts in front of me while I clouded my vision with ways to leave. I admit, I love the long season of warm weather (flip flops until October) and the very short winters
Thank you for sharing this!
I wonder the same about missed opportunities. So thankful for His grace that is at work even when my mind is focused elsewhere. Blessings to you, my friend!
This was so moving. When we grasp a hold of contentedness no matter where we are at is when true peace can be found. Thank you for sharing!
Have a wonderful week!
Shari
Yes, true peace is found in walking the path He’s laid. And it’s for our good and His glory. Thanks for visiting!
Before I even scrolled down and read your words, I wondered if you lived in Florida. Such unique vegetation there — it really speaks a language all its own, I think.
This post really feels like a journey . . . thank you for taking us along with you as you come to that beautiful place called surrender and acceptance. Not just surrender (like “huff! ALLL-right . . .”) but *acceptance,* too. Like Jesus, “I *delight* to do your will, O God.”
Really felt this in your words.
It’s the way I want to live, too!
Thanks for stopping by. Jesus followed the Fathers will where it led Him. I must follow Him where He leads. And when I struggle, He is my strength. Blessings to you!
Beautiful post, Christina. I can relate as where I’m planted is not where I had thought I’d be….but I’m seeing the joy of obedience. and it’s sweeter than my previous expectations!
thanks for the reminder!
All for Him,
Nikki
Joy in obedience, yes! Praying He gives me a heart that desires to obey and follow. Thanks for visiting!
Such a perfect post for me today! I have been struggling with work because I know God brought me here for a reason, but I get bored with my jobs really fast. But its beautiful here and I am making a difference in teen lives, which is a passion of mine so I should be really really thankful! Thanks for reminding me
Thanks for visiting! Blessings on your job and may He give you peace where you are.
Oh…How we do resist …The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. Ps. 16:6 I am learning to trust in His love…and when can really rest in His love…I can rest in the boundary lines…great post …blessings~
I love that passage. Thanks for your sweet words and for visiting today:)
I’m dropping in from Ann’s today and so blessed by your musings and honesty. I’ve spent time in those places I didn’t ever want to be planted, too. Funny- my “mismatched soil” was coming home- to the small town where I grew up. Thought I wanted BIGGER adventures than returning to this quiet place of farms and faith. Glad God knew my heart and had a plan for it all. Trusting you’ll find the same is true for you. Those trees are incredible, by the way! And your boys racing beneath that canopy- so precious. Glad I found you today.
He knows what’s best–often its the opposite of what we expect
My boys are happy whenever they can run free!
I love your list. Contentment must be bliss and freedom to love all wrapped up in peace. Blessings!
Thanks, Katie! You are sweet! Have a blessed day!
Hi Christina! I can relate to being planted somewhere I did NOT want to be. Ended up being one of the best 5 years of my life (after one really hard year tho). I loved this part of your post “What if the soil here is what my roots need most to grow? “. thanks for sharing! Blessings to you as you are obedient where you’ve been planted
Thanks for visiting! And thanks for your encouragement. Contentment is a lifelong battle, I’m sure:) Blessings!
Hi, Christina. Boy, it’s so interesting how our perspectives of our lives and where we want to be often is wherever we aren’t. I’ve often thought how I would love to live in a tropical climate. (Maybe we should trade places….but then would we want to be somewhere else?) I’m from the midwest and winters can often be brutal. But I know that God wants me to be here, for now. I think our willingness to go or stay where He calls us is all He wants us to do. I enjoyed your listing of God’s gifts and pictures!
In His Lo♥e, Ann
You’re right, probably no matter where I am, I will wish I was somewhere else:) His grace is changing me to accept where I am. So glad you visited today!
Praying your bloom riotiously where you are planted!!!
Thanks:) So glad you stopped by!
Beautifully expressed. Thank you for this. Even though I truly love where He has planted us, I do tend to argue His will over other things.
Don’t we all, at one time or another? Life is a journey of gradually dying more and more to self and living more and more for Him. This is one are of my life where I have long struggled. But, with His grace, perhaps I’ll one day love where I am:)
This reminds me of the old, old song, “Brighten the Corner where you are.” The lady who wrote it was planning to travel the Chautauqua Circuit to evangelize. Her father became ill and she changed her plans to become his nurse. I often think of this song when I’m feeling planted in the wrong garden.
What good writing is a joy to read!
Thanks! I also think of Amy Carmichel who had specific plans for her life yet God decided to use her differently. So glad you visited!
I love your attitude. It’s hard to find contentment when things aren’t like we wish they were. But there’s such grace in that struggle when the Lord knows you want to want to be happy where he puts you. You are admirable. Thanks for being vulnerable here.
Yes, He changes the desires of our hearts so that they line up with His. And mine are changing:) So glad you stopped by!
Being content in whatever state we are in – a tall order, but do-able, or the Lord wouldn’t ask it of us. My life didn’t turn out the way I planned, but I have to trust that in the end it will be better than I could have dreamed.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post. (And I LOVE that caladium!)
Everything works out for our ultimate good. Trusting in that, even when we don’t see the good yet, is “walking by faith and not by sight.” Thanks for visiting!
As much as I love where I live, oh, my heart aches for Florida. I have so many good memories there. This wistfulness, though, it’s deceiving, isn’t it? We can fantasize that place where we want to be as all things great. It’s easy to see the downfalls of where we live because well, we live here. But, you are right — we are here for a reason, for a fullness we cannot quite imagine. May we all surrender to His tending.
The discontentment in my heart will follow me wherever I go and soon enough, I won’t like that location either. My contentment is found in Him alone. So glad you visited, Jen!
Such a good reminder that God’s plans for my planting are far better than my own.
They are better. I just have to remind myself of that when I’m faced with a new circumstance that is not of my own choosing:) Blessings to you!
Coming over to visit from Thankful Thursday! What a beautiful post! I, too, have spent so much time wishing I was somewhere else (more land, away from the “noise,”etc), that I am not appreciating enough why He wants me where I am right now. Thanks for the reminder of what is truly important! Many blessings, Lisa