Ten Minute Fix: Plant Some "Flowers"

I either heard or read a talk about 8 years ago that I’ve since thought about several times. I can’t remember who the speaker was and I can’t find a copy of it online, so if anyone out there has an idea, be sure to let me know.

Anyway, in the talk he (I’m pretty sure it was a “he”) was talking about repentance. He compared repentance to gardening and that it’s more than just pulling weeds. Sure, a big part of repentance is putting an end to bad behavior, but that can’t be all. That’s like going to a dead flower bed and pulling all the weeds only to be left with a patch of dirt. You have to plant flowers! So, what I took from it is that you can’t just stop bad behavior. You have to replace it with good behavior.

I apply this to more than just repenting of sin in a religious context. For example, if you are trying to break a smoking habit, replace it with an exercising habit. If you find yourself always snacking on junk food, replace the junk food with healthy food. If you are currently watching Desperate Housewives or any other show on television, replace it with Seinfeld. If you’re rude or short tempered with your wife, don’t just stop being rude, be extra nice and loving. Take her out on a fun date, give her a foot massage, and just let her know how much you love her.

Take ten minutes to do the following activity.

1. Divide a sheet of paper into two columns

2. Label one column Weeds and the other column Flowers

3. In the weeds column, list your bad habits, behaviors, thoughts, etc…

4. In the flowers column, list good habits, behaviors, thoughts, etc… that can replace the bad ones.

5. Set some goals to get that flower bed into shape!