Black Women Have It Going On

“Every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.” — Luke 6:44

If you are looking for me, you can find me in my backyard. That is my sanctuary—a happy space where I tend to life with a heart of gratitude and later sit at my patio table to feast on my accomplishments. To be honest, my garden is where God comes to hang out with me. I hear His voice loudest among the GreenStalk planters and terracotta pots; it’s where I feel His presence as I care for every leaf and bloom.

But even in a sanctuary, “fence relationships” can bring a bit of static.

My neighbor seems to watch me through a very specific set of blinders. He looks at my yard—my clearance-find shed, my 50%-off Vego beds, and my thrifty patio furniture—and he sees dollar signs. Because my space is flourishing and well-maintained, he assumes my bank account is overflowing.

He doesn’t realize that every beautiful thing in my yard is a testimony of God’s provision through sales, coupons, and stewardship. He sees the “wealth,” but he misses the “wisdom.” He has no clue that I didn’t pay full price for a single thing because God knows my income and meets me right where I am.

The irony? While he’s busy offering “special instructions,” insulting my gardening abilities, and trying to exploit what he thinks I have, his own yard looks like a junk yard. He professes to know God, yet he cuts his own blessings short by trying to manipulate others. It’s funny, really—he’s trying to critique my harvest while his own ground is full of weeds. Bless his heart!

The Critical Thinking Lesson: The Assumption of Abundance
Critical thinking requires us to look past the surface. My neighbor fell into the Assumption of Abundance trap: he equated “well-kept” with “wealthy.” He assumed that because I have nice things, I am a target for exploitation. He missed the reality of stewardship—that you don’t need a massive income to have a beautiful life; you just need a relationship with the Provider.

The Takeaway:
Don’t let someone else’s “junkyard” mindset clutter your sanctuary. When people try to exploit your blessings because they refuse to tend to their own, remember: you aren’t responsible for subsidizing their lack of discipline. Keep your garden—and your heart—fenced in peace. Let’s pray!

Daily Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the sanctuary of my backyard and the ways You provide for me in the clearance aisles of life. Give me the grace to smile at the “Sanford and Son” spirits around me without letting their insults take root in my heart. Help me to be a good steward of what You’ve given me, and keep my eyes on the Fruit of the Spirit, not just the foliage of performance. Amen.