LeRoy Brownlow, in one of his devotional books, tells a great story about a little lady in a small Northeastern town. Next door to her humble house was a vacant lot. It was untended. Growing only weeds. And was worrisome eyesore.
One day an idea occurred to her that would solve the problem. She decided to turn the lot into a vegetable garden. She would give away the produce to help needy people. What she didn’t use or give away, she would sell and give the money to her church.
Her name for the garden? God’s garden.
Indeed it was. This lady took a blight on her block and turned it into a blessing. She used the soil the grew useless weeds and produced food to feed the hungry. She turned a neighborhood eyesore into a beautiful garden.
The story reminds of a statement Jesus made about the woman who anointed Him with a costly perfume. When she was criticized by others, Jesus rebuked them and said, “Leave her alone….she did what she could.” (Mk. 14:8) Then Jesus added this comment.
“I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Think about it. She did what she could!
What a wonderful description! What a great compliment! What a terrific epitaph! And what a powerful lesson for us today from both of these ladies. What if we all lived by the motto, “I will do what I can do”?
Too often we wait for some grandiose deed. For an important ministry. For a life-altering event. For a unique opportunity. When in reality there may be a simple opportunity just waiting for us outside our kitchen window. On our block. In our neighborhood. In our church family.
Is there a problem you can solve? A person you can help? A kind word you can offer? A helping hand you can give?
Are there “weeds” growing in the lives or a friend or brother where you could sow seeds of faith, hope and love? Where you could add beauty where there is spiritual blight? Where you could plant “God’s garden?”
Both women shared a faith in Jesus, a love for others, and a humble spirit to do what they could do. Where they could do it. And when they could do it.
Today. This week. This month. Look for opportunities to plant a seed in someone’s heart that will make a difference. Decide that you will not wait for some great thing, but that you will do what you can do.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
This is lovely. Wonderful story. And a wondeful reminder that “doing what we can” is so much better than waiting for a grandiose opportunity and never doing anything at all. Thanks, Ken, I’m going to do whatever good I can do today.
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Thank you Amy, both for reading my blog and for taking the time to comment and encourage me. I appreciate it!
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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I loved your inspiring post. We could all do more–take advantage of an opportunity to spread some good in the world.
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Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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Great reminder. Do you all know that sometimes all that is needed is for us to just kindly acknowledge someone in our congregation that we don’t normally speak to. We should all strive to speak to at least one person Sunday that is not in our normal chat group. Seek out the elderly that can’t move around as much as some of us can.
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Thanks Billie! Good suggestions
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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Lovely post. I think deep down we all want to make a difference but we think it just be something grand for it to make an impact. This lady used wat she had. Makes me think of what I can use.
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so many opportunities exist near us but lack exploitation. let us make a trial.
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Great thoughts, Ken!!
Thank you for all of your work, as you share God’s truths!!
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