All I know is that today I was told to simply be still and listen.

I did that.
I listened.

I put the plastic sweat exercise suit on and sat outside and listened.

I grabbed my physical copy of the Holy Scriptures but I was told “No, listen!”

So I let the Bible play from my phone beginning with Matthew and I listened.

Hungry, I made myself a cup of coffee and I warmed up my leftover shrimp and grits from Harry T’s restaurant and I sat outside ate and listened.

I found myself looking at the bird house as I listened.

I listened to the reading of the Gospel of Matthew, but what I heard was

“you should go clean up the birdhouse”

I sat and sat then next thing I know I was up grabbing my ladder and heading toward the birdhouse.

That turned into a job of cutting down much needed tree limbs that was hanging.

One tree, two trees, three trees

Oops.

I hit myself in the face with the garden hoe. Just clipped my face a little. I’m not bleeding but I’m tired.

Listening to the Gospel of Mark know.

I thought I was tired.

I deweeded two baskets to prepare for the 2022 growing season

I replanted two of my returning herbs into a bigger bucket.

I trimmed up three buckets of lettuce and another tree captured my attention with its hanging limbs.

Yes I went to work on that tree.

Turned into fun as my husband and I tried to throw a ball with a string tied to it around a hanging tree limb we couldn’t reach.

This limb had been dangerously stuck in the tree for 2 years.

Today I got it down with the help of the Holy Spirit who gave me a tool I could use – a tree limb that broke from the big limb I was trying to pull out the tree.

It became the perfect tool for me as I pulled more of the branches and limbs down.

Then I cleaned up all of the fallen limbs and put them in the burn pile for my husband.

I had absolutely no idea that I would be doing that today. I had no idea that I would be dressed from head to toe covered.

Today I was dressed in such a way that working in the garden was a success for me.

The insect life was not a concern because of the plastic exercise sweat suit that I had on.

My head and hair was covered in a head wrap and hat so that my neck and ears were covered too.

I wasn’t the least bit concerned about the landmines in the backyard because I have garden boots that go up my calves. I felt protected.

My fingers didn’t get dirty because I had some real garden gloves on.

I was so thoroughly covered…
Helmet
Breastplate
Loins girded
Feet shored up
Even my hands were equipped…
…and that enabled me to work fearlessly and tirelessly in the garden.

I’m tired.
Just a little sore.
And all the while I kept thinking.

“…this is good exercise for my shoulder.”

I’m a little sore but
I’m grateful because
I haven’t had this type of energy in a while.

Today I listened, but it’s not over yet so I got to go. My break is over. I want to hear more…