Have you ever had a neighbor who doesn’t take care of their yard one bit? I do and they live directly across the street from me. It’s been since the beginning of May when they last cut their grass and cleaned up anything outside and that was only because the city had served them a notice to do so. What’s ironic though is how I’m actually ok with seeing this jungle across the street every day, because a year ago I know I wasn’t.
The level of my letting go and abstaining from controlling-based actions has definitely improved over the past year. I mean a mere year ago, I used to go out into my own yard and pick up every single leaf each time I glanced out the window and saw one had blown onto it. Yes, I truly was that controlling. But in regards to this neighbor’s unkempt yard, a year ago I was one of those who constantly talked about this to all the other neighbors, stirring people up about it, and becoming more and more disturbed each time I did. Thankfully though, I’m not doing that anymore because it doesn’t seem to be bothering me now.
I know this might sound like such a simple thing to let go of, but for a guy who was such a control-freak for most of his life, letting things go like this was always so difficult. But given all the struggles I’ve had with my health, I’ve been working hard to let go of things that have nothing to do with me, such as a neighbor’s overgrown yard, knowing in doing so will only increase my health and well-being. I’ve been praying quite a bit for God to help me achieve this and I believe my prayers are being received and answered given the way I feel now when I look across the street.
While some of my other neighbors are still calling the city and complaining about this yard on a weekly basis, I’m choosing just to accept it and send love and light to those who live there instead. I have no idea why they don’t take care of their yard, but frankly, I know now there’s no point in getting upset about something I have no real control over.
So thank you God for helping me to let go of control in greater and greater ways every day such as with things like my neighbor’s overgrown yard. And I continue to pray to You for help me in doing the same with everything else in my life, especially when it comes to my health and healing. Because I ultimately know the more I let go of control and let You run my life instead, the more peace and joy I will feel in the long run…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
