VIM & VIGOR

 Came across this one when editing this humid afternoon.  Thought it might energize fellow gardeners.

VIM & VIGOR

(Exuberance and Endurance)

A gardener starts each year with vim and vigor.

This year his vegetable garden will be bigger.

Have you ever meant a gardener who’s a kidder?

He gets out his gardening tools, including his digger,

but not too early in the morning or all the neighbors

will let him know when they telephone and (perhaps) holler.

The gardener attacks his plot with vigor

for this year he has plans to plant much more, so

this morning the gardener’s full of vim and vigor.

Is anyone more ambitious than a gardener?

Before the day is half over

he’s run out of vigor

for he has plowed a quarter

of an acre,

go figure!

Tomorrow his vim has returned bigger.

He’s now bursting at the seams to ensure

his garden is bigger

and better -

for sure.

At the end of the day he heads for the back door

for vim and vigor has left him for awhile, but be sure

it will soon return - for a gardener has learned to endure.

Behold, the gardener needs more vim and vigor

for when weeding, be assured, there’s always one more.

His gardening exuberance will boost his endurance for

he is going to get each and every weed outside his door.

If only the neighbors

had his vim and vigor

for weed seeds blow over

from the neighbors next door.

A dedicated gardener invites you for a tour.

You will realize he’s full of vim and vigor to the core.

The gardener relies on common folk lore

when he catches bad insects with stinky lure.

Of insects, there always seems to be one more

just waiting to be lured outside the back door.

Everyday the gardener does more

and to do everyday there is more.

Fortunately the gardener’s vim and vigor

returns during the night with dreams of better

ideas for his garden plot that grows bigger

each year. Now where will he find room to store?

Life is certainly not a bore

outside the gardener’s back door.

The gardener realizes he is not poor

because on him God’s blessings continually pour

and because of the gardener’s vim and vigor

he has many good-for-you fresh vegetables to store.

Vim is restored and so is vigor

every passing year for gardeners.

And very thankful are his neighbors

when they receive from the gardener.

It is neither one or the other.

It will always be vim and vigor.

* * * * *

Vim and vigor is needed in your spiritual life too.

Sometimes we all need exuberance and endurance anew.

When you’re under attack

and it’s wrong to fight back.

When prayers are not answered

when you’d like them answered.

When life isn’t fair

and sorrows you bear.

When the way is not clear

and each day seems more drear.

When God seems silent

and fears won’t relent.

When no one is there

to say they care.

When hardships come

though not welcome.

When there is no money

or your heart is empty.

Take heart. Be of good cheer.

The Lord is always near.

There’s no need to fear.

The Lord will fight for you

for He is with you

and on your side too.

Often when God seems to be silent

He’s working through others He has sent

to be ministering angels met.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say life would be fair.

The Bible does say we are not meant to burdens bear

for God is our burden bearer when we ask through prayer.

This is the day the Lord has made,

let us now rejoice and be glad.

There’s always something that makes one glad.

A spirit of fear is from Satan.

He only spoils and makes rotten.

Trust in the Lord. You’re not forgotten.

God loves you personally and unconditionally.

Others may not say to you “I love you,” unfortunately,

but you are loved by Jesus Christ the Lord daily.

Troubles, problems, hardships are part of everyday life

and have a purpose - to teach us to be more Christ-like.

Be at peace today. Everything will turn out all right.

Instead of counting your worries, count your blessings.

You’ll be richer than you can ever imagine.

Your heart will be full when you count your many blessings..

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord and shun evil.

This will bring health to your body

and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5-7

The Lord...turned the curse into a blessing for you,

because the Lord your God loves you.

Deuteronomy 23:4

You are precious and honored in my sight...

because I love you.

Isaiah 43:4

You whom I have upheld since you were conceived,

and have carried since your birth.

even to your old age and gray hairs I am he,

I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you

and I will rescue you.

Isaiah 46:3-4

I am the Lord our God,

who teaches you what is best for you,

who directs you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,

because when he has stood the test,

he will receive the crown of life

that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:12

We consider blessed those who have persevered.

You have heard of Job's perseverance

and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

James 5:11

Life Is a Garden Party

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