Lessons From Pulling Out A Creeping Charlie Plant

Our yard, in the front is primarily a mix of clover, dandelions, creeping charlie and some grass.  The backyard is mostly creeping charlie and some grass.

If you\’ve never had creeping charlie in your yard, well like the name says, it creeps and spreads rather quickly.  We had it in our garden, still do, but the flower plants have taken over more of the space and are winning the battle. 

We also have an area where we have mulch and stepping stones that lead to our deck and the weeds like to grow in there.  Despite there being landscape fabric down first, it doesn\’t seem to take much before the creeping charlie gets in.  And you see, it doesn\’t need dirt in order to send out it\’s runners and keep spreading and keep growing.

So how does this teach a lesson?

The other evening I sat outside while my youngest decided to play in the sprinkler.  I had every intention to read and do some journaling.  However, something else was pulling at my heart.  As I glanced over at the pathway to the deck, I noticed the grasses growing in the mulch and the creeping charlie.  The reality is that it doesn\’t take much to maintain it really or to pull out the weeds because of the landscape fabric, but most days I just let it go or plain ignore it.  

But you see, that doesn\’t make it go away and there comes a time when it needs to be tended to.  The other night was the night.  I sat down and began pulling.  Pulling small piece by small piece, with no real rhythm to it other than I just wanted it out.  Then I began to slow down.

What drew me into slowing down I haven\’t a clue, but I settled on that God wanted to tell me something and it was time to listen.

As I slowed down I found a rhythm.  Instead of pulling whatever leaf I could, I started to find where the runner ended.  Then I would slowly pull it up, following it back to the root, then I would pull it out.  What looked like it was a short run turned out to be many inches long, each leading back to one main plant.

Stick with me here.  With all that is going on in our day to day, even pre-virus stuff, there always is stuff that creeps in.  But since March of 2020, it seems like more creeps in, goes a little deeper, and sticks a little longer.

What looks like it is small, eventually becomes bigger with many trails running from the root.  We need to take the time to pull each of those trails up and work our way back to the root.  And once at the root, dig deeper to get it all out.

While pulling up weeds I asked God to please help me pull weeds from my heart, mind, and body.  I asked for my heart to be opened and be freed.

We have weeds that begin to take root in our lives, in ourselves.  Yet how often do we take time to sort through them removing what needs to be removed or pruning back to allow for new, better growth?

I don\’t know about you, but I have had fears, anxiety, and guilt (just a few of things) creep in often lately.  It doesn\’t do me any good to keep following down that new trail.  But if I am faced with following this new runner, or slowing down turning back and really looking at where it came from and why…I choose to keep going and pushing it off to the side.

Why deal with it?  What different does it make if I know the source?

Well, if we know what started it, we can work through it all the way back to the root and release what needs to be set free.  It\’s okay to feel these things, but it is important to know what is causing these feelings.  Identify what triggers them and work through them.

We have many emotions, it gets complicated sometimes.  But often, what we see at the end of the runner when we stop is not what is the cause to begin with.  It shifts as we go along or shows up as one thing because we don\’t want to face it, so it comes through in another way.

Anyone else tired of letting the fear take over, the guilt and anxiety taking up space?

I am.  But I know full well it will come back in, as it does, from time to time.  I know what to do, usually, yet I still let it in and linger, taking up too much space for too long.

It is certainly the journey we are on.  We can either let those feelings reside or we can acknowledge them, look into why they are hitting us, and decide to let it go.

God wants to be happy, to have joy and laughter, peace and calm, light and hope.  But he also knows we are human and we have many emotions.  He doesn\’t want us to stay in the negative, to let dark stay in.

Is it time to pull some weeds in your own heart, mind, body?  Is it time to acknowledge all that you are feeling, dig in a little deeper to find the root, and then release?

That is for you to decide, but I encourage you to look inward and see.  Be ready for answers or feelings you may not want or weren\’t expecting.  But in time, you will begin to feel lighter, free.  The light from within will grow and radiate out of you.  

Yes there will be those days where the fear and anxiety, the guilt, the negative and more will get to you and may even bring you down.  But you can slow down, you can release, you can make the shift to where you really want to be.

It is an easy thing, sometimes yes sometimes no.  It comes and goes in waves truthfully.  But through it all, you\’ve got God on your side, ready to help.  You\’ve got family and friends who can walk with you.

Have faith, trust, and believe.

So, the lesson I learned from pulling out creeping charlie?  I have weeds in me that need to be pulled and taken care of, I have what it takes to do so and when I don\’t feel like I do God\’s got my back, and that one small weed can slowly creep in and take over if you let.

With all that is going on in you and around you, I hope and pray you find peace and harmony, joy and laughter, can fuel yourself, and be you that God intended you to be.

Take a moment to pause and think, what weeds do I need to pull?  What have I let creep in slowly around the edges that needs to get tended to and released?