Proportions
Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th. M.
And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches
in the Messiah Jesus. - Philippians 4:19
Just like last year, my husband and I finished up planting our garden on Good Friday. Since this isn’t our first garden (it is our second), we’ve learned a few things and we’re not the newbies we were last year. We’ve got our overalls, we’ve got our tools, and we know how to use the tiller (now). One of the lessons we’ve learned since last year is that plants need only a few things to thrive. They will try to tell you differently at the feed store - but don’t listen! Plants need sunlight, plants need air, plants need good soil, and plants need water. The only problem you’ll find with these four things is when they are out of proportion.
A few weeks back we had a pretty bad storm at our house. It rained harder than I’ve seen it rain in a long time for almost a whole night. We had already planted our herbs in two big barrels and the next morning they were swimming. There were a few inches of water sitting on top the soil. Hoping the sun would dry it up and the soil would soak it up - I did nothing. I just went on with my day.
Sometimes my life looks an awful lot like my drowning herbs. God gives me all the things I need. He gives me a place to live, he gives me people who love me, he gives me a job to do, and he gives me people to care for. The only problems I find are when these four things get out of proportion. Sometimes I find I can drown myself in my job or in taking care of others and then everything else suffers. Balance is the key. Just like the herbs in my garden I need all the Lord has given me in the right proportions.
A day or so later my husband and I were in the yard and saw the herbs were looking rather sad. Some were brownish, some were shriveled, and others were covered in soil. We picked up the barrel (ok, maybe he picked up the barrel) and drilled a handful of holes in the bottom of it so it could drain better. We helped it get back into a good place where it was getting all the things it needs in the right proportions. During this experience I could almost her God screaming over to me “More isn’t always better” and that something we can all apply to our lives. If you focus too much on the place he gives you to live all you’ll see is immediate needs. If you focus too much on the people who love you, you’ll miss the ones you need to love. If you focus too much on the job he has given you to do you’ll miss out on caring for yourself and others. If you focus too much on the people you’re supposed to care for you may miss out on caring for yourself. He gives us everything we need in the proportions we need them in for today. It is our job to steward our gifts well each day.
Author Bio
Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th.M., is the owner of Bent Tree Counseling in Clinton, La. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Louisiana. She is the wife of Cole Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist and a doctoral student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Interested in counseling or have questions? Check out her website www.benttreecounseling.com.
This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.
