A couple months ago my wife was in a beautiful mood. I mean she has always been attractive to me but that is not what I am referring to. She had a desire to beautify the world around her. Typically, she shines in this area, and what better way to do this than planting flowers. So, she gathered all the children together and planted Zinnia seeds in a bare area in our landscaping. A couple weeks later they began to sprout up. Then about a month after that they had overtaken our front porch. Suffice it to say it was too much “beauty” for me to handle.

So, what do you do with an overabundance of pink and yellow flowers? You trim them down, make bouquets for friends and begin to make pretty centerpieces for every table, shelf and bathroom in the house.  This beauty project was beginning to bloom inside and out. My wife was happy…I was not!

Within a couple weeks this minor annoyance in my front yard became a significant problem for me, and here is why: Zinnias are beautiful flowers, but apparently, I am allergic to this type of beauty, and bringing these little critters into my home triggered my immune system, causing an allergic reaction. I have been miserable for a few weeks now. I did not realize the cause right away because I was not aware, they were a trigger for me.

Thankfully we have eliminated these evil varmints from the inside of our house, and soon we will do the same outside. I’ve given my wife until Labor Day to enjoy her plants before I destroy them. This experience has not been fun, but it was a good reminder for me. I need to know my triggers and not be blindsided by beauty. I need to let my wife know my triggers as well!

What is true in nature is also true spiritually. All of us have allowed something destructive to invade our lives. For some, this is a slow process, but for others it can spring up quickly before we realize what is happening. We need to know our triggers and avoid them before they become a problem!

How do we know our triggers? Experience is our best teacher. Invasion is often self-imposed. Many of us have planted unhealthy seeds in our lives expecting good results but have learned that certain behaviors lead to destructive habits. We need to know these triggers, but we also need to be open about them. If we keep our triggers to ourselves, our friends and family can’t help eliminate the source of the problem. If we keep silent, they will unintentionally invite problems into your home.

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death…Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. – James 1:13-15 &5:16