I spent most of the day yesterday pulling weeds in my backyard.
The weeds had grown tall, closing in on the trees and bushes that are intended to be part of the landscaping around my house.
I had neglected my yard, I admit. Too focused on other priorities and life stuff.
But it was a gorgeous day, full of sunshine and possibility.
I put on my gloves, grabbed the rake, the clippers, and the weed killer.
And I started pulling.
Some of the weeds came up easily.
Others fought me. Their roots deep under the ground.
The harder I pulled, the harder they fought.
It was gratifying when I was able to get those tough weeds up and out without having to cut them.
But some I had to surrender to - had to reach for the clippers and cut them at their base.
I had to leave those roots buried underground. And treat the area with weed killer to prevent them from growing back again.
I filled five big bags full of weeds and yard waste yesterday. Ready for collection day.
And I realized that pulling weeds is a very satisfying exercise.
Weeds don't just exist in our backyards.
There are figurative weeds in all areas of our lives.
Papers and mail taking up space on the corners of our kitchen counters.
Piles of laundry ready to be folded, sitting in baskets in our living rooms.
Things we accumulate that don't quite have a place, scattered throughout our homes.
Feelings we don't take time to deal with - regret, loss, disappointment, heartache - that grow tall in our minds and in our hearts.
It's not always fun to pull these weeds. Sometimes it's easier to just let them be and focus on other priorities.
But the longer we wait to pull them, the deeper their roots become.
Sometimes it takes a beautiful sunny day, where we look up and it's hard to see life through the weeds anymore.
We realize it's time to pull them. To clear the landscape.
To dig deep and uproot the stuff that's cluttering our lives.
Some of those weeds will be rooted so deep that we can't pull them up, at least not on our own. Or maybe not at all.
Maybe for some of those weeds, we have to cut them.
Sever ties completely and leave the roots underground.
Treat the area with a combination of grace and love and friends who support us that kills the ability for those weeds to grow again.
And when we're done, we can step back and enjoy the nice, clean landscape.
Breathe deeply and think clearly again.
Weeds.
They'll always be part of our lives. In our backyards, in our homes and in our hearts.
Don't be afraid to pull hard when you have to, friends.
Sometimes that's what it takes.
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