It’s Sunday morning. I should be contemplating on today’s Gospel, but I’m still stuck on last week’s. read Eyes on the Prize
Last summer, my personal project was to make a hanging garden for my preschool. Back then, while my son was busy with his soccer games, I was busy collecting his empty Gatorade bottles (the giant kind). The bottles had a charming shape that I felt would make pretty vessels for hanging plants. I took pains to cut the bottles in half, and to put holes on the sides and bottom. And that was only half the work!
I had to dig in the backyard to get soil for the baby plants. I also labored to get saplings from the plants in our garden, and to help them grow healthy. Needless to say, it took the whole summer (and until yesterday) to keep my plants alive…my very first venture into gardening.
I started bringing my hanging plants last Friday, and then the rest of them yesterday. As I hauled them into the car, I felt a sense of sadness. I will surely miss watering them every morning and pulling weeds out now and then. I will miss running out in the rain to transfer the sensitive plants when they have had enough water. Then, a voice inside me said, “What are you gloating about? You knew all this time that you were doing all these to make a hanging garden for the school.”
At this point, I also remembered last week’s reflection. I am so afraid to let go…but why? I know that it’s heaven that I want to reach. Who doesn’t? If I am preparing myself (and raising my kids) to be able to get there, why hesitate when it's time to go? Ah, it’s all clear to me now. My plants are in their rightful place…and in a sense, they look so heavenly where they are.
And so now, I will continue to strive towards heaven. Someday... though I have to leave everything behind... I know that the Kingdom of God will be worth more than any other treasure I have ever known.
Last summer, my personal project was to make a hanging garden for my preschool. Back then, while my son was busy with his soccer games, I was busy collecting his empty Gatorade bottles (the giant kind). The bottles had a charming shape that I felt would make pretty vessels for hanging plants. I took pains to cut the bottles in half, and to put holes on the sides and bottom. And that was only half the work!
I had to dig in the backyard to get soil for the baby plants. I also labored to get saplings from the plants in our garden, and to help them grow healthy. Needless to say, it took the whole summer (and until yesterday) to keep my plants alive…my very first venture into gardening.
I started bringing my hanging plants last Friday, and then the rest of them yesterday. As I hauled them into the car, I felt a sense of sadness. I will surely miss watering them every morning and pulling weeds out now and then. I will miss running out in the rain to transfer the sensitive plants when they have had enough water. Then, a voice inside me said, “What are you gloating about? You knew all this time that you were doing all these to make a hanging garden for the school.”
At this point, I also remembered last week’s reflection. I am so afraid to let go…but why? I know that it’s heaven that I want to reach. Who doesn’t? If I am preparing myself (and raising my kids) to be able to get there, why hesitate when it's time to go? Ah, it’s all clear to me now. My plants are in their rightful place…and in a sense, they look so heavenly where they are.
And so now, I will continue to strive towards heaven. Someday... though I have to leave everything behind... I know that the Kingdom of God will be worth more than any other treasure I have ever known.I press on toward the goal
to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14
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