For the past several months I have been meditating upon the profound effect our thought life has on our actions, attitudes, behaviors and ultimately those around us. James Allen (2007) in his book “as a man thinketh so is he” puts it this way: “A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must, and will, bring forth.”
In keeping with this analogy of our mind being a garden, it behooves us to be vigilant in ensuring that we do not allow weeds (hate, envy, doubt and anger) to grow out of control. We must dig out all the useless and impure thoughts and cultivate the growth of flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts (James Allen, 2007).
Ensuring that the garden of our mind is well cultivated is imperative to our success in rearing well-adjusted children and in propelling them to the door of their destiny. We must not allow the weed of negative thinking affect how we see our children. We cannot allow our children’s’ persistent negative actions and behavior cause us to develop doubts in their abilities to succeed. Proverbs 23:7 tells us that “as a man thinketh in his heart so is he”. If we think that they will not succeed then they won’t. We must plant seeds of hope, faith and unconditional love. Saint Paul tells us in Romans 2:12 : That we should “not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.
Let us renew our minds, by getting rid of doubts, replacing it with faith, getting rid of impatience, replacing it with patience, getting rid of failure and replacing it with success. As we embark upon this week let us be cognizant of the thoughts we are cultivating in our minds. May God help us to keep the garden of our minds spiritually cultivated.
In His Service,
Paula Watson (Guest Writer)