​I must be the world’s worst plant owner. I do have plants, but my kids will tell you, don’t give me something that needs a lot of fussing. You’re bound to end up with sticks in dirt. For some reason, remembering to give it a little drink of water now and then just seems like an insurmountable task.
 
I do have one plant that I bought back in 1991 that is still alive, despite my multiple attempt to kill it with neglect. It has been brought back from the dead more times than people in the New Testament. I have literally left it in the garage until it was nothing more than a lonely stick in a pot of dust, and yet when my inner-scientist chose to begin throwing some water on it, it amazed us all with its ability to forgive…to bounce back…to survive. It has earned its rightful place in our home.
 
Perhaps my weakness with plants is God’s way of teaching me that when we water and nourish a thing, it grows. And when we neglect it…that’s right…it turns into the Sahara and withers away.  The same is true with habits…all habits…whether good or bad. That which we give our time and attention to grows. That which we ignore and leave unattended will dry up and disappear like last year’s reality show.
 
When we are striving to develop new habits in our lives, it can often seem daunting to give it the little bit of attention it may require. But ask yourself this? Which habits are you watering? And which habits are you neglecting? Every time you water an old habit that you would rather put in the compose bin, you keep it alive a little longer. And every time you nourish a new and improved habit, whose fruit you long to enjoy, you also keep it alive a little longer. With consistency of time and attention, the new habit will send roots deep into the earth, developing resiliency, absorbing more nutrients, and providing sweeter, more plentiful fruit.
 
And might I add that when we invite the Savior to join us in our efforts, He supplies us with the living water that can breathe life back into deadest of sticks. It’s as simple as that.  So…which habits will you water?

​Do you want to help your organization develop a greater connections, increase  confidence and eliminate fear? Becky Ivory is now booking for speaking engagements in 2019. Contact Becky to learn how she can add value to your organization. 

​The grade-school boy had the heart of an entrepreneur as he lugged a pile of outdated calendars into the classroom, looking for someone with something to trade. He was in luck. The little girl had brought in an authentic 1887 silver dollar for show-and-tell and he was in love…not with the little girl, but with the silver dollar.
 
To this day, my husband often wonders what that little girl’s parents said when she excitedly arrived home that night, excited about the beautiful pictures on her 2 outdated calendars, not worth the paper they were printed on, and no silver dollar in sight. He, however, still owns that 1887 silver dollar and uses it to teach a valuable lesson: are you investing in the things that matter?
 
What do you value? If you took just 60 seconds right now (and I suggest you do) to list just the things you value most in life, what would the list look like? Family? Relationships? Peace? God? Health? I imagine many of our lists would look similar. Now, let’s find out if you really value these things as much as you believe.
 
Paul Martinelli always says, “If you want to know what people value, check their datebook and their checkbook.” It’s true. Take a moment and look at the last 30 days on your calendar, and the last 30 days of your expenses for evidence that you truly do value those things.  If a jury had only your calendar and your bank statements as evidence, would they be able to convict you of loving your family, taking care of your health, or worshipping God?
 
It’s all too easy to give lip service to the things of great value, but be side-tracked on a day-to-day basis by the colorful pictures that promise us immediate gratification, only to realize down the road that we have lost what really mattered.
 
Today is the time to stop buying into the lies that have been holding you back, and invest in the bright future of significance and fulfillment that you have always wanted. The choice is yours. Today, you can choose to invest in what matters.