HELEN SANDERS
4-13-2026
THE ROCK GARDEN

When we bought our home several years ago, there was a rock garden along the front of the house and another one in the yard around a palm tree. We also had rocks around a plant by the street and a second palm tree that has our bird feeder on it.

Over time it had been neglected, so we took all the rocks out of the various places, washed them, added some new rocks, and put them back in place. It then looked so much better.

Then, over the course of about four years, weeds started growing in these areas. Even though we had put plastic down below the rocks, the weeds found their way in. Then with rain, and a few hurricanes, dirt, and sand that had accumulated it again needed help.

This past week I worked in those areas. It wasn’t easy. The weeds were deep rooted and had to be dug out. The rocks were dirty from neglect. So, once again, they had to be dug out and cleaned. One area about three feet wide had dirt and rocks under the plastic. It took work getting them all dug out, but they now have been removed, and new, clean rocks have taken their place. It looks so much better.

As I worked on these rock gardens it reminded me of sin, especially offenses, that if left alone, the roots grow into bitterness. Then, it is tough to pull those roots out. The only way to do it spiritually is to repent, then let God dig them out. Often there is a wound left from the “digging out” of our heart’s rock garden. If we do not allow the Holy Spirit to fill that void, it will not heal. It is our choice.

Just like my rock gardens that require weekly care to stay beautiful, our lives need daily care to weed out things that need “to go” so wounds can heal.

Some things that need to go would be the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit. They could be called weeds in our spiritual rock garden or heart.

Here is a thought: Unkindness needs to be replaced with kindness. Hatred needs to be replaced with love. Chaos needs to be replaced with peace. Sorrow needs to be replaced with joy. Impatience needs to be replaced with patience. Meanness needs to be replaced with gentleness. Evil deeds need to be replaced with goodness. Pride and arrogance need to be replaced with meekness. Wrath needs to be replaced by temperance. By now, you get my drift, right?

I could ask how your spiritual rock garden is, but you already know the areas you need to work on. Do not put it off. Like my natural rock garden, it will take a lot of work to get the weeds out if you let them grow through neglect.