Vim & Vigor

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 met 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 seem 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 are 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 burdens 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 do care.
When hardships come
though not welcome.
When there is no money
and 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 one reason to be 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.
Other 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 an be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Cast all your anxiety on him
because he cares for you.
I Peter 5:7

You are precious and honored in my sight,
and...I love you.
Isaiah 43:4