Weeds and Wheat

For any gardener or farmer, talk about weeds hits home.  They never go away, no matter how clean a garden bed looks after meticulous weed extraction. Yes, we shy away from chemicals, so the entire process is an "on the knee" and hands on process...It's work but even some measure of success is reward enough. Even in the parable of the weeds and wheat in today's Gospel: Mt 13:24-30 ) the weeds get their "just reward" by being thrown into the fire and destroyed for good.
In our dealings with our own faults, failings and sinfulness, we need the same patience and "stick-to-itiveness". We will always be pulling weeds from our behaviors, dealings with one another and relationship to God, but we can rely on God's help to make progress and eventually cleanse ourselves, our thoughts and behaviors, and become the person he has destined us to be and bear the fruit of which we are capable. May we benefit from this parable to take heart and not give up.
Bro. Rene