Do Not Get Weary in Doing Good

This past week I had one of those days. You know those days. It is when everything seems to go wrong. Even when you are trying to help, it just is not easy.

My mother in law's doctor told her to not do anything for a while. She had just had a procedure that just required rest. If she did not rest, permanent damage could be done. We knew she would not listen. She thought she was being sneaky. Busted!

She had been wanting to plant a garden. She had bought everything she needed to plant. But then the procedure had interrupted her plans. The garden would have to wait.

My mother-in-law lives next door to her daughter. My brother-in-law knew of the plans to plant the garden. So one day, he looks out and says to himself, "I will help my mother-in-law by tilling the soil for the garden. Then when she is able, the soil will be ready for her to plant." So he goes out and tills the garden area. About the time he is finishing, he looks up to hear his mother-in-law shouting at her loudest. He can not make out what she is saying as the tiller noise drowns her out. He thinks she is thanking him although the expression on her face is not one of gratitude. Finally through, he turns off the tiller and goes to where she is standing.

Getting closer he realizes that she is not happy. Then the confession comes. She had sneaked out when no one was around and violated her doctor's orders. She had planted the garden that he had just tilled up.

Well, the other day I visited my mother-in-law. Her garden is blooming although everything is in quite disarray. You have a plant of peas right next to the tomato. There is no semblance of order that her garden usually has. I guess that is the kind of garden you get when you do not do what the doctor says!

Now the brother-in-law did not stay in the doghouse long. However, he has made it clear that he will not help anymore without asking. "I was just trying to help!" was his defense.

Life is like this more than we realize. Doing that which is good and honorable sometimes becomes more complicated than we want. Then there is the temptation to stay in our own little world which is not at all what God would have us do.

Do not grow weary in doing good. The world needs more people who are willing to help one another. The world needs more gardens in disarray.

Mother-in-laws should do what their doctors say as well!