Please Don't Die

My husband and I had a date day last weekend, and as we randomly roamed Deep Ellum in Dallas, we ran into this cute shop called Jade & Clover.

They had plants everywhere; cacti, peace lilies, succulents, and some really cool trinkets that were earthy but modern. As we walked around the store, my husband laughed and called me over. In a well decorated, quaint corner this planting mug read "Please Don't Die," and we laughed hysterically.

Although I enjoy the sight of plants and in my mind I am very nurturing, I have the death hand when it comes to living plants. No matter how much I research, talk to them, and put forth my purest effort, they do not live long.

I have to settle for plants that don't require a lot of maintenance. You know, the cactus that can live in just about any condition, the snake plant that can go without water for extended periods of time, and I have managed to keep my peace lily alive, but it was also fully grown when I purchased it. I have a calendar reminder every two weeks that says water plants, but for some reason it happens every two in a half to three weeks. I love my plants, I want them to live, but that snooze button on my reminders is very overused.

This cup is a reminder for me that I can have the best intent for success, for my dreams to live, for my focus to be maintained, for that bad habit to be broken, but intent is not enough. "Please Don't Die" has to transition to me actually watering that plant on time, I have to open my window and let the light in, and instead of hitting snooze, I have to complete a simple task. I have to pick up my green, cactus shaped watering can and give those plants some love, attention, and hydration.

I want to ask a hard question. What is an area that you have desire and positive intent but you lack discipline, focus, or action? The reminders come and instead of moving forward, you put that thing, dream, or task off for five more minutes. Five minutes turns into a day, a day turns into a year, and it just never gets done. I'm not talking about simple tasks like washing dishes and laundry, I am referring to the business you intended to start three years ago, your intent to go back to school, or that person you have been intending to call because you know you both need to reconnect.

It's watering day. I opened the window to let the light in, and I grabbed my watering can. I know even the plants that can live in harsh conditions will eventually die if I neglect them long enough. It may be a slow death, but it's dying just the same. As I water my plants, I am also being more intentional about the things that I have snoozed. I am watering my dreams, my desires, my heart a little each day. I am letting the light in so I can continue to grow, and when I want to move back to asking for things not to die instead of doing something to make sure they don't, I am reminded of every potted flower that resides in plant heaven because of my negligence.

I am no longer saying "Please Don't Die," I have decided that nothing else will die if I have anything to do with it. Loves, I encourage you to do the same.