Some Days You’re the Gardener. Some Days You’re the Houseplant.

Some days, you’ve got it all together.

You’re up early, getting things done, helping people, solving problems and feeling like a reasonably functional adult.

Other days?

You’re basically a houseplant with bills.

You need some water, a little sunlight and for everybody to stop asking you questions.

And you know what? That’s okay.

Even plants have their dramatic moments

I’ve spent enough time growing plants to learn something about life. You can give a plant everything it needs and it’ll still occasionally decide to look miserable for absolutely no apparent reason.

Too much water? Drama.

Not enough water? Drama.

Moved it six inches to the left? Apparently, you’ve ruined its entire existence.

Honestly, some of us aren’t that different.

You don’t always have to be the gardener

We like to think we’re supposed to be the gardener every day. The person who has the answers, takes care of everybody and keeps everything growing in the right direction.

But nobody has that kind of energy all the time.

Sometimes you’re the one doing the nurturing. Sometimes you’re the one who needs a little nurturing yourself.

And somewhere along the way, I think we’ve convinced ourselves that needing care is somehow less admirable than giving it.

That’s a pretty strange way to look at things when you think about it.

Rest isn’t a reward for running yourself into the ground

Even Jesus stepped away from the crowds. He rested. He found quiet places. He didn’t treat every demand for His attention like an emergency that required an immediate response.

And I’m fairly certain none of us has a more important to-do list than He did.

There’s a season for tending the garden and there’s a season for simply being allowed to grow.

You don’t have to earn your rest by exhausting yourself first. You don’t have to produce something meaningful every single day to have a meaningful life.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is take care of the living thing that happens to be you.

So if today you’re the gardener, wonderful. Go spread a little kindness. Help somebody grow.

But if today you’re the houseplant?

Find yourself a sunny spot. Drink some water. Maybe have a snack.

And if somebody asks what you’re doing, tell them you’re photosynthesizing.

Final thoughts

God didn’t create us to be machines that measure our worth by how much we accomplish.

We’re living things. We need nourishment, rest, patience and care.

And sometimes, just like the plants we tend, we need a little time to grow without somebody constantly checking on our progress.

So give yourself a little grace today.

The garden will still be there tomorrow.

And so will that laundry you’ve been ignoring.