Day 255, September 12

"The grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence. It's greener where you water it most."

I found this quote in a women's magazine and was immediately struck by the spin on the adage, "The grass is greener on the other side of the fence." Too often, I fall in to the trap of believing that the grass is indeed greener on my neighbor's side of the fence.

Lately, with a bit more maturity (translate that to getting older) and, hopefully, a bit more wisdom, I've come to see that the grass is the same everywhere. Everyone's lawn has some crabgrass, some vine weed, some bald patches.

What makes the difference between one lawn and another is the stewardship exercised over it. In other words, some people are watering their grass more diligently. Isn't that the way in all of life? What we give our time and energy and attention to will most likely thrive. What we neglect will probably wither and die.

I know it's true of my own life. Those activities that I enjoy, those that I feel good about, receive my best efforts. Those that I feel are drudgery receive a "lick and a promise." When I put my heart and soul into a project, it shows. When I give it only the required minimum, it also shows.

I sometimes wonder what Heavenly Father thinks of my efforts in my relationship with Him. Do I give it my best? Or am I content to give it the least I think I can get away with? The answer changes from day to day. Sometimes I give Him my absolute best. Frequently, though, I give Him a promise to do better the next day ... or the day after that. And still He loves me.

So, for today, I am grateful for times when my grass is greener because I've given it my best.