Green Pastures

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. Psalm 23:1-3a NIV

Every time I read this passage, it is so soothing to my soul, and the words green pastures, for some reason always makes me think of thick green grass. Don't ask me why; it's just what I imagine.

The area where we live invests part of taxpayers' money into the park system. Every park we visited so far has many really nice trails and walking paths, even simple neighborhood parks. And the grass is really thick and green. We are not talking about ordinary nice grass, but so green and so lush that it looks and feels like thick carpet. No exaggeration! Bare footin' kind of grass, in parks and along sidewalks and walkways. It's the kind of grass that I think about when I read verse 2 above.

I work from home, every day since my position is a remote position. My desk is set up against the window so that I can look outside and enjoy the view of trees and sky. Staring at a computer screen and reviewing documents all day calls for lots of breaks for the eyes. One day as I was taking a break from the computer, I looked out the window and what I saw so amused me that I laughed out loud.

Across the way, on a patch of thick grass next to a sidewalk was a bunny. Usually, when you see a rabbit, what does it do? It sits with its nose twitching, or frozen like a statue, most likely trying to decide whether to run or hide, or so it seems - right? What was this bunny doing? It wasn't just sitting there. It was on its back, all four paws up in the air wiggling and rubbing its back in the grass! It looked as if it had not a care in the world and it was not nervous about whether other people or other predators were around. It was the cutest, funniest thing I had ever seen a rabbit do!

Watching that bunny on its back with no fear and no worries enjoying the lush green grass made me think about some things. While most of us, for the most part, myself included, have no worries of the environment we live in (like animals do), how often do we fully take time to enjoy the "green pastures" around us. How often do we leave the fears the worries, the anxieties of life behind and enjoy what the Lord has blessed us - the green pastures. Sure we go on vacation, and we relax and hopefully, leave work and cares of routine life behind, but what about on a regular basis. So you say, "Susan, I can't go on vacation every week!" I totally agree with you. I can't either. But what I am thinking about is basking in all the goodness that the Lord has provided for us that the psalmist wrote about in the verse above referencing green pastures.

The bunny took advantage of what was present around him - the grass. (Okay, I have no idea of the bunny's gender but it looked like a "him" to me, LOL :) What are some things right around us or in front of us we have been blessed with that we may miss on a regular basis? I'm thinking "out loud" or in writing here with you.

Just about every Saturday morning, my husband and I enjoy sleeping in and then having a big breakfast: eggs, bacon, homemade waffles or pancakes, fruit, juice and coffee - the works. Coffee is usually last as we relax and talk while sipping coffee. Sometimes, our adult children can join us for breakfast, but usually, they join us for our weekly family dinner. My heart is full when we are together, sharing about the important and the not-so-important things in our lives and in the world, spiritual matters, laughing, and encouraging each other! That is one of my weekly green pastures.

With nice weather, we love being outdoors. Sometimes it's fiddling around the yard watering and enjoying the beauty of the flowers; sometimes it's sitting on the back deck enjoying the warmth of the sun on my face, and the peace & quiet; other times it's hiking and enjoying the beauty of God's creation. Green pastures.

When our guys were little, I was a stay-at-home mom. I remember full well the joy of being with them all day long. Sure there was physical fatigue from sleep-depravation, picking up and putting down, bending, lifting, and twisting, but there were plenty of green pastures: cute baby stages; solid food days making healthy homemade baby food; reading books; building Legos on the floor; being there when they can ride the bike w/o training wheels for the 1st time, and when they can swim the 1st time w/o floaties, etc. etc. Even through the occasional roller-coaster emotions due to hormonal changes during their teen years, there were green pastures: the joy of watching them grow physically, spiritually, and socially. 

Don't misunderstand me, please. I am in no way trying to make it sound like I have a perfect life. I don't; no one does even if they appear to. But what is a "perfect" life anyway? Is it where we have everything, and everything goes our way, and all relationships are wonderful? It doesn't matter what age you are, life has challenges and trials. Without challenges and trials, we cannot grow. Only God is perfect and only He can provide the green pastures for our soul when we can rest in Him and forget about what or who is around us, like the bunny did. God's Word says that He provides the peace that surpasses all understanding. I have, at times, experienced this peace in the midst of circumstances. It is His peace that is the green pasture in my soul. I want to be like that bunny - leave the cares and the worries behind - and enjoy the green pastures right in front of me -- all the time.

What would be a green pasture to you? What are some green pastures in your life and in your soul? Would love to hear about them. Send me a PM.