The Journey series
Mustard Seeds
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Mustard Seeds
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![]() I didn't start today's Mustard Seed until after finishing my yardwork before tomorrow's rain. I didn't write it earlier because, as I'll explain, I had unwanted visitors. Five years ago chafer beetles invaded our back yard. The carnage left by crows and raccoons as they dug for grubs motivated me to finally begin the renovation I had long contemplated. The original concrete slab patio was cracked and sinking unevenly. The aluminum cover was so flimsy that I had to prop it up with 2x4s each winter to keep it from collapsing under the weight of the snow. I also decided vegetables for the family were a preferable crop to chafer grubs for the wildlife. My back yard was transformed into roughly equal sections of covered patio, open patio, raised gardens, and renewed lawn. After two years of construction we had two years of enjoyment. Our yard was a particularly welcome respite last year during covid-19 isolation. This year the chafer grubs, crows, and racoons returned with a vengeance. I converted more of the lawn to raised gardens and we hired a company to remove our torn-up grass and lay down chafer-resistant fescue sod. Two nights later raccoons come at night and flipped the brand-new turf. After much online research I decided to set up a netting barrier. I was well into the project when my younger son finished class for the day and came to check my progress. Tranquil is not the word anyone would use to describe my mood. Matthew echoed back the advise I gave him so many times. "Calm down. Is your anger solving anything?" I blamed fatigue and took a break to prove it. Matthew patiently continued with other parts of that lecture. How big a problem is this in the grand scheme of things? How much will this matter a year from now? Other people would be glad to have this problem. After dinner I returned to my project calmly. I couldn't very well reject my own advise. I was happy for the proof that, despite our doubts, children do listen. A few hundred square feet of upturned sod don't really amount to much. Next year this will be a humorous anecdote. Some people would be glad to have a back yard in any condition. Sadly, some people are so hungry they would be glad to have the grubs. It's not easy accepting this advice when we're the angry ones, but that's exactly when we need it. With a gentle nudge from my son, my anger transformed into a great appreciation for the country we live in. We are truly blessed. We are also very ego-centric. I wondered what God was thinking as He looked down on me. I thanked God for the reminders He sends us every now and then. Next week: Protests (barring unforeseen circumstances) God bless
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AuthorPeter T Elliott Archives
August 2022
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