A life lesson unfolded with a crop of poke in the spring of 2015 when I was clearing an area for a garden. Unlike the beneficial dandelion, this weed’s berries, leaves, and root are toxic. In fact, the taproot of this invasive plant can go a foot deep and is roughly four inches thick with far-reaching offshoots. Digging down below the taproot was the only way for me to remove all seven of them permanently and non-chemically. This reminded me of bitterness. Left unchecked, it can get deeply rooted in the heart, and can negatively affect family, friends and others.

Now when I recognize a young poke plant, I pull it up before it takes root. I need to do the same when bitterness begins to sprout in my garden of my heart. My advice to me…pull up the bitterness shoots before they take root.

Keep a sharp eye out for the weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden.

Hebrews 12:15 (The Message)