One of my friends has a neighbor who has put new potted plants outside her front door three times this summer only to let them die. My friend, on the other hand, has one potted plant outside her door that has grown full and lush. My friend has watered and talked to her plant. Yes, she talks to it. The neighbor, from my friend’s estimation, has failed to consistently water any of the plants.
My summer morning routine has been to water and deadhead my outdoor plants each day when I finish my walk. Picking off the dead blooms encourages more growth and keeps the plants looking better. I’ve had a couple people say how good they’ve looked.
On my walks, I’ve seen people doing various work on their landscapes – mowing, edging, pulling weeds, watering. Some of those lawns and plants are meticulous. They look so good when people put in the work.
We put up a small pool for the kids to play with this summer. It’s been a good investment, but it has taken plenty of work. It’s too big to change the water with every usage but too small to have all the equipment that regulates the chemicals in the water. I’ve shocked it. I’ve added chlorine. I’ve tested the pH. I’ve cleaned the filter. I’ve scooped out grass, leaves and random bugs. I spend some time on it almost every day.
Plants and pools are great examples of the importance of maintenance. Almost everything worth having requires some degree of maintenance and upkeep to ensure that it lasts and fully serves its purpose. If we want to keep our teeth as long as possible, we need to brush them and have regular dental checkups. We eat vegetables and exercise to maintain our physical health.
Relationships require regular maintenance as well. Good, strong, dependable relationships need to be watered and weeded if they’re going to grow and bloom. Whether it’s marriage, friendship, or our relationship with Christ, it takes regular work and care.
Most of us agree on this. Conceptually, it’s easy to understand. Well, maybe it’s harder than I think because I seem to spend a lot of time emphasizing it to my children. We simply must take care of what we have if we want it to last and perform optimally.
I was thinking about this and wondering why it’s so hard with some things and so much easier with others. The motivation behind it is really the difference. I bet my friend’s neighbor knows she has to water plants, but it isn’t a high priority. I want my kids to be able to play in their pool, so keeping it usable is essential. God reminded of the answer to the “why.”
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21.
The things we treasure, we maintain. If we don’t see the value in something, it’s hard to be motivated to take care of it. What are you treasuring? What parts of your life are showing signs of needing maintenance? Do you want those parts to last or are they like weeds and dead flowers on a plant – just choking out the good stuff?
If we want our lives and our relationships to bloom and thrive then we must consistently do the work of maintenance. We must care for and water what we want to grow. Sometimes that requires us to trim off what is dead so that energy can be rechanneled elsewhere. This requires us to pay attention and be prepared to work, even when we don’t feel like it.
The Bible tells us earthly treasures decay and are easily stolen. They don’t last. If the maintenance of the temporary takes away too much time from the lasting, maybe it’s time to rethink what we’re treasuring. Where’s your heart, friends? Do you need to do some maintenance in your life? Now’s a good time.
