Georgia is seeing a bit warmer weather this week.  While I have enjoyed the cold weather (a rare treat for my Louisiana blood), I am grateful for a mini-reprieve from the temps being in the teens and 20’s.  It has given all of us a chance to get outside for longer periods of time. 

As Brady and I took advantage of the beautiful morning yesterday with temps in the 50’s, I took a survey of my frost-bitten yard.  It is is dire need of help.  Four of my terra cotta pots had cracked from the freeze and the flowers need to be re-potted into new pots.  My pansies and violas are in desperate need of dead-heading. Our garden with brocolli, lettuce, onions, and radishes is completely wiped out.  Even my azaleas are in need of a little extra “TLC” right now.  I feel my fingers itching to get out there right now to work on these things; however, I feel other things need to take precedent right now.  I know, though, that a couple of hours in my yard will do wonders for all these little yellow, orange, purple, blue, and white flowers that bring us such joy during the gray winter months.   A little pruning and little extra composted dirt for nourishment is what they need!

Surveying my yard yesterday reminded me of the survey I need to take in my own life right now. I feel a bit more tired than usual.  I need to ask myself:  What needs to be pruned in my life right now?  What needs a little extra “TLC”? What do I need to sustain my spirit in the “winter-months” in my life?  I need to not only pause to survey my life right now, but I also need to make it a priority to put action to my answers. 

What do you need right now to “sustain your spirit”? 

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.