Goatsbeard and Me

I noticed the first yellow goatsbeard on Whale Cove Road about five years ago. It has blossoms similar to those of dandelions. When the bloom is done, seed parachutes appear. Breezes knock them off the stems, and they float around.

The whole plant is attractive, but viewers need to beware. I recognized the goatsbeard because this evil intruder had been a major enemy on my father’s farm. As a child, I had been instructed to pull out every goatsbeard I found. I yanked this one out and continued my daily walk. That’s the end of this menace, I thought. Was I ever fooled! Each summer I find a few more. They pull out easily, but they never give up. Goatsbeard is a noxious weed and a heartless destroyer of good cropland. It creates havoc in pastures. I was delighted to see my neighbor cutting his pasture very short. This was done just as the goatsbeard blooms were beginning to become parachutes. Many goatsbeards will not flourish, thanks to him.

I am doing my share too. As I reflect on the destruction created by goatsbeard, I think of the sins in my life. Some are so glaring that they are easily spotted and yanked out, but much of my sin is not so easily removed. We frequently hear careless words.

Without intent, those words become part of our vocabulary.

Those careless words escape our mouths.

Despite regret, we cannot take them back.

Unhealthful eating habits or insufficient exercise have negative effects on our daily lives too. Many a healthy body has been contaminated in this way.

Cutting our devotional time also clouds our spiritual walk. It is easy to skip the extra prayer time that we so desperately need. A late call to work, an unexpected visitor, or a telephone call can cause us to lose those precious minutes with God.

Just like getting rid of goatsbeard, these slipups are very difficult to remedy. Fortunately, God never gives up on us. I pray every day that He will remove my personal “goatsbeards” permanently. Little by little, victory is coming.

My reward will be a little corner on Hallelujah Square.

Patricia Cove