Written by monthly contributor, Rachel Coltharp

I couldn’t help myself.

The little plant called to me from the grocery store and it whispered the promise of Spring. Never mind that there was snow outside. Right here, right now, was the reminder that lying beneath the frozen ground is life. A promise of life, for only 99 cents. How could I refuse?

It perched so happily on my kitchen countertop, mere inches from the window through which the snow covered ground lies. For several days I happily gazed upon it, warming my hands in the dishwater, it’s promise of Spring warming my heart.

I was shocked to walk in today and find it dead.

What had happened? Nothing dramatic. No freezing wind, no blasting heat. And then it dawned on me. The week before, a dishwasher had been installed in our kitchen. OH HAPPY DAY. The dishwashing time was cut down, and as a result, the little plant that had been delighted over and cared for during dishwashing time had been neglected.

The poor thing had dried out, mere inches from what it needed.

I hastily watered the little thing, and in a few minutes it started to perk up. By the end of the day it was restored to its former beauty. How sad to think it almost died of thirst, so very near the water.

My soul has been like that little plant.

The beautiful promise that was blooming had wilted and dried out because of neglect. It’s usually not because of the blistering heat of a trial or the freezing wind of a hardship.

Sadly, it’s usually the simple overlooking of daily duty: The failure to water the promises of God in my soul with the water of the Word, the daily irrigation that keeps the soil of my mind soft, allowing the seeds of truth to flourish.

How wonderful that we are never too far gone for reviving!  Drip by drip, precious Word, line by line, precept by precept, promise by promise. Every desert place is made fertile ground. Dormant seeds, planted long ago, spring to life when watered by the Word of Truth.

Where do you find yourself? Are you a little wilted? Or barren with no signs of sprout at all?  Take heart dear one. The promise is for you. God’s word will NOT return void of life! Pick up your watering can, the Holy Scripture, and let it saturate your spirit, water your wounds, soak your soul. And then, watch as beautiful things revive, sprout, grow.

Witness the wonder of the Water of Life!

Rachel Coltharp is a pastor's wife of one and mother of four. She is fluent in four languages: Infantese, Toddlerspeak, Teenlingo, and Husbandism. She is a writer and public speaker who shares from her real life experiences, mostly mistakes and do-overs. She is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ and an avid disciple of the the Apostolic doctrine. Find her sharing devotions at The Write Word and all things domestic and re-purposed at Galaxy Coltharp.

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My youngest son and I

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior,not slanderers or slaves to much wine.  They are to teach what is good..." Titus 2:3

Women sometimes struggle with gossip, which is precisely why it's briefly addressed by Paul in his letter to Titus.  Whether it's intentional or not, it's far too easy to begin discussing the hows and whys of someone else's decisions or thoughts with our neighbor, our sister, or our friend.

We quickly assume to understand someone else's reasoning for making certain decisions, then package it extravagently in pretty words and deliver it assertively to undiscerning readers and friends--- as though it is Truth --- and they believe it.  It's an easy snare to fall into in the blogging world, in personal friendships, and in families, even when we have the best of intentions.

When others misrepresent you, what do you do? Do you maintain a meek and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4) and extend grace?  Or do you feel the need to defend yourself?

Personally, I'll admit - I struggle with the urge to defend myself.  I can be competitive and prideful to a fault if I'm not careful; it's difficult for me to suppress that sinful nature within that wells up and feels the need to argue, defend, and challenge.  It's been a progressive journey for me, and I have to prayerfully seek to please God and adorn myself with meekness, remaining quiet in the most offensive situations.   We are to plant seeds of truth, be salt and light, live a holy life before others, love the body of Christ, and promote unity amongst ourselves.  Remember, the world will know us by our love (John 13:35).   Often, succumbing to our desire to defend ourselves (even when we feel we are right or have a "righteous" reason for doing so) results in a hasty dissolution of unity among even the most devoted Christians.  I've seen it far too many times.

Elisabeth Elliott eloquently shared this in her transcript Never Defend Yourself,

"The third vow of spiritual power is never defend yourself. Hum--that's not easy, is it? We're all born wanting to defend ourselves. Thrusting our fists heavenward and drawing our things around us, and sort of fending off other people. Well, Tozer suggests that we should never defend ourselves. We're all born with a desire to defend ourselves.  If you insist upon defending yourself, God will let you do it. But if you turn the defense of yourself over to God, He will defend you. He told Moses once in Exodus 23, "I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, an adversary to thine adversaries."

Further along, Mrs. Elliott says,

"If a story gets out about you, the big temptation is to try to run it down. But you know running down the source of a story is hopeless task--absolutely hopeless. It's like trying to find the bird after you've found the feather on your lawn. I like that metaphor. Like trying to find a bird after you've found the feather on your lawn. You can't do it!"

And, in her closing words, the story I love the most,

"Henry Suso was a great Christian of other days. Once he was seeking what some Christians have told me they are seeking--to know God better. Let's put it like this, you're seeking to have a religious awakening with your spirit that will thrust you farther out into the deep things of God. As Henry Suso was seeking God, people started telling evil stories about the man. It grieved him so that he wept bitter tears and had great sorrow of heart. Then one day he looked out the window and saw a dog playing on the lawn. The dog had a mat and kept picking the mat up, tossing it over his shoulder, running and getting it, tossing it some more, picking it up and tossing it again.

God said to Henry Suso, "That mat is your reputation, and I am letting the dogs of sin tear your reputation to shreds and toss it all over the lawn for your own good. One of these days things will change." Things did change. It was not very long before people who were tearing his reputation were confounded, and Suso rose into a place that made him a power in his day and a great blessing still to those who sing his hymns and read his works."

It's difficult when others make unfair assumptions about you, your character, your reasoning, or your motives.  All we can do is speak the truth, continue to live according to the Word, strive for unity, offer grace, and trust that He will ultimately turn their words around for the greater good.

If you have prayed, heard from the Lord, and your actions are in line with the Word of God (not contrary to it), then continue steadfastly in your good works, my friend.  Take your frustrations, your hurts, your tears to Him in prayer and lay them at His feet.  Let Him fight in your stead; He is much stronger than you and mighty to save!

Have you ever felt misunderstood?  Has a friend ever twisted your words or misrepresented them to others?  How did you respond?

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