Hi, my name is Danyelle, a near and dear friend of Brittany and the Henley family. I was so very inspired by Brittany, the author of this blog, that when she asked if I would like to do guest blogs, I jumped at the chance. I’ve always been able to draw encouragement, spiritual guidance, and sound advice from her and so I was beyond proud when I found out she was sharing her testimony with the world, and humbled when she included me. At first I wasn’t sure what I’d write about but as I thought about what conflicts we face as woman of faith I began thinking of something that all woman at times struggle with and an area I’ve been beyond blessed in; friendship.
Relationships of all types are very much like gardens. We plant
the seed of friendship. We tend to it with sunny dispositions, enriching
conversation, and the downpour of understanding and affection. It takes time to
grow your garden. It takes time, patience, and care. When it blooms, we benefit
from its glory and beauty. If we’ve tended our garden right, we know that no
matter what stormy troubles lie ahead, or frosty misunderstandings that may be
had, your garden will bloom again and thrive. The Bible has a lot to say in the
way of plant to relationship metaphors, and in the spirit of spring I felt it a
fitting way to describe how we are the company we keep. A lot of times people
will spend time on their gardens, work and toil to grow them, but then be
surprised at what they reap. For instance, if I plant stink weed among my daisies,
why am I then surprised when the stink weed grows and thrives under my
attention? I was the one letting those weeds into my garden, allowing my attention
to be placed towards an unsavory plant -- a weed that may even harm the good
plants I’d cultivated. If that happens, I’m a person with a garden filled with
dead daisies and a grip of stink weed. I am a stink weed farmer and am seen as
such because I allowed myself to grow that plant.
It is the same with friendships. We are the company we keep. Your
friends are seeds in your life. The people you interact with are all seeds.
Some of them are strong, kind, and sweet; like a lily. Others may seem well-meaning
and helpful, but in time become burdensome in their negativity; like a
dandelion. If you pick up seeds that are not right for your garden, seeds that
do not enhance the beauty of your life, and then you further commit to spending
your time and efforts on said seeds, do not be surprised when your garden is
filled with weeds instead of flowers. 1 Corinthians 15:13 says, “Do not be
deceived, bad company ruins good morals.” We all are held accountable for the
company we keep; for the garden we tend. Why continue to spend your time sweating
in toil only to produce a weed, when you can put your efforts into a garden
that gives back to you herbs and vegetables that sustain you in your times of
need as well. We should be striving to find people to surround ourselves with from
who we can grow, benefit, and blossom. Proverbs 13:20 says, “Whoever walks with
the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
In this time of the spring when you are cleaning away the
clutter of last year, take time to evaluate and the clutter of your garden. If
someone isn’t benefiting your life, then let that weed go. He may only be
taking up time better spent with God, family, and good friends. I’ve been a
weed before and it took someone cutting me out of his life to realize that I
didn’t want to be a weed anymore, nor did I want others that were not positive
around me anymore, so I no longer abide by it. I am now happy, have wonderful
friends, and His love. Frankly, that sounds like a perfect garden to me.
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| An example of a beautiful garden! In order of left to right: Amber, Laura, me, and Danyelle. This was taken last year when the 4 of us were able to get together for the first time since college graduation (Please be aware that I was almost 8 months pregnant, I wasn't just fat!) |
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