letting go

Why is letting go so hard? This morning in my garden I was reluctant to pull out the fading and dying flowers out of the flower beds. I could see that they still had some life in them, and there was some flowering and beauty left. But they were leggy and not thriving well, all the nutrients and fulness had gone. I know that by pulling them and cutting them all the way back, that next season they will pop back up and go with great gusto bringing new life and beauty to my backyard....and yet it is still hard to pull those plants that are hanging on with little life to them. 

Lots of us have a tendency to want to hang on to what was,  instead of looking forward and being excited about what is ahead. What was, is known... what lies ahead is often unknown. I have found that most of us avoid things that feel unpleasant, and make us feel vulnerable. (I was one one of those people. I liked to feel in control and that I had power in situations.) I have learned that is faulty thinking. Letting go is where the joy and life is found. We, as people don't like to let go. What do you need to let go of?

I have found that when I let go, new things come. When I pull the old out of my garden, it makes room for new growth and color. 

How much of life is not colorful and full anymore because we will not let go of the old and make room for the new that the Lord wants to bring into our lives? Are we stuck saying I'm not ready to let go? holding on to things with tight fists? will you open your fist and let go into God's hands of that thing you so tightly are gripping?