Anyone who knows me knows that I have the opposite of a green thumb. There’s a little story my family and close friends like to tell to embarrass me that includes hydrangeas and limes...yes, I said limes! We will save that story for another day when y’all are bored and need a laugh at my expense. While sitting on my back porch this weekend, I noticed a weed poking through the deck boards that seemingly came out of nowhere. I got up to pull said weed and noticed the tiniest, yet spikiest thorns (ouch!) running from the top to bottom of the stalk. As I continued to look closer, this little weed - that appeared out of nowhere in a day's time - had grown down, around, and over one of our azalea bushes. I was shocked! This little vine (weed) that no one invited to my yard had slyly invaded and was taking down one of my most precious plants (you know... the ones that bloom beautifully in the spring without much maintenance at all). Who did this weed think he was, and how did I miss it?! It must have been there for weeks, silently invading my space. God spoke to me in that moment. You see, I hadn’t paid much attention to this azalea in weeks. I walk past it multiple times a day but it wasn’t in my routine to take care of it - or really even acknowledge it - until I realized it was compromised. And to be honest, I really only appreciate it when it’s in full bloom. It took a spikey vine through the deck boards of my porch to make me even think about it. How often am I like this with the things God has entrusted to me? John 10:10 tells us that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. He is constantly looking for ways to slyly invade the good things and relationships God has given to us. In the very next breath, Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that HE came to give us a full and abundant life! What is important to us takes constant attention and appreciation and cultivation. The moment we begin to neglect these good things, we are giving the enemy an open opportunity to do his thing. Don’t get me wrong, the enemy doesn’t win here! When he does get a hold of what is valuable to us, by no means does it mean that it’s not salvageable; it just means that it’s going to take some extra TLC to get that thing or relationship back on track, so you can continue to move forward in the purpose God intended. This week, I encourage you to take inventory of the things and people in your life that may be like that poor azalea out back. Have you neglected them? Do you only appreciate them when they are in full bloom, when you need them -  when everything is going right? If so, grab your gloves, and pull the weeds. Make a plan to prioritize the daily investment it takes to ensure those weeds don’t creep back in.