Weeds and Seeds: What I Learned from My Mother’s Garden

My teenage attitude would often come out with a sigh and, rolling my eyes, I would reply, “I guess.”

I can’t say I ever looked forward to the days my mother would ask me to help her in the garden, but those moments of pulling weeds and planting seeds taught me a few things about life. My writing professors always told me to avoid cliches, but truth is often buried in these commonplace phrases:

You Reap What You Sow.
Growing a garden takes a lot of work, but the harvest is completely worth the effort! When I discovered the watermelon shown in the photo above, I was ecstatic. Of course, my first thought as a teenager was “I need to send a photo to all my friends!” And I did.

Relationships are a lot like a garden – what you get out of them is dependent upon what you invest into them. You simply cannot expect others to keep filling you, if you never pour into them. Genuine friendship is a two-way street.

Growth Takes Time.
Last year, a friend and I decided we wanted to grow strawberries – from seed. We faithfully watered them, and made sure they were exposed to adequate sunlight. Days went by and still – no sign of growth. We were anxious to see the evidence of our investment, but it took time.

In life, we often wish for change to happen overnight. We set goals to lose some weight or increase our business revenue, and expect to see immediate results. This isn’t realistic. We must remind ourselves that growth takes time. As you set goals for growth in your own life, surround yourself with individuals who will encourage you on your journey!

A Little Dirt Won’t Hurt.
When I garden, I don’t wear gloves. This is part due to the fact that I hate those weird wrist tan lines, but mostly because I like getting my hands dirty – literally. Because what’s the fun in gardening if you don’t walk away with some dirt under your nails? It shows you got involved, worked hard, and accomplished something.

Life isn’t wrapped in a pristine package, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t live it. Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all.” What is a door of opportunity that you have shut simply because it may be a little “messy?”