Catholic Faith | Grandpa's Garden | catholic family life
It is autumn in this region, and the vibrant colors of falling leaves remind us of nature’s life cycle of growth and rebirth. Creation sheds old growth in preparation for new life. I’ve spent a lot of time in the garden pruning and thinning the plants and shrubbery. After my reductions, I’m always amazed at how the branches grow back with increased vitality.
When our children were little, I remember going through their books, toys, and clothing and weeding out what was worn or outgrown and could be donated. Spring and fall seemed ideal times for a clean-out project.
The author of Ecclesiastes observed there is “a time to keep, and a time to cast away.” (Ecclesiastes 3:6b)
With our children, clean-outs sometimes involve negotiation. Our young one may still have treasured what we knew was obsolete. The lack of value seemed clear to us, yet our child had invested in the item something more. There are things we become attached to because of memory, relationship, or symbol. It’s not the thing; it’s what it means to me.
What Things Mean To Me
The Creator sees creation as very good (Genesis 1:31). With His grace, we can reverently steward our natural world.
Perhaps sometimes, in a consumerist society, acquiring things can substitute for more authentic security. We might be distracted by messages that tell us that what we own, the latest technology, the accumulation of wealth, or whatever, will add value to our lives. Yet, we are immeasurably valuable, rich or poor.
Material things can be enjoyable and enriching, but with time and wisdom, we discover they are not a substitute for life’s deepest joys and consolation. It is challenging to help our children learn that how much we own and living a good life are not the same thing. Jesus cautioned his followers about how wealth can impede one’s access to the reign of God (Matthew 19:24).
A Season For Letting Some Things “Fall” Away
Prayer sensitizes us to the things that draw us to God and can help us recognize what attachments hold us back. We prune away the latter to better embrace the former.
Our faith continually offers us a new way of thinking, a deeper understanding, and a future full of possibilities.
“Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future so as to win the life that is true life.” (1 Timothy 6:18-19)
Let us pray in our families for the grace to recognize what draws us to God.