I knew I shouldn’t do it. I knew my strained knee needed to rest for a few more days. I knew I was asking for trouble if I continued. But the temptation was too strong. The waterfall needed me.

After five attempts to set up the rocks in my waterfall, I had finally got it right. The water flowed nicely but within a week all the rocks were covered with algae. Not only that, but some of the smaller pebbles had been moved by the water leaving the lining exposed again to the sun’s damaging rays. I had to do something.

I could have asked someone to help.

I could have waited another week.

I could have thrown in more pebbles along with a chemical to kill the algae.

But an idea had entered my mind that I couldn’t ignore. If I was careful, I told myself, everything would be fine. I just needed to stay off my right knee. I had torn a meniscus a year ago which was taking a long time to heal, and had discovered a few days previous the agony of kneeling on it. I didn’t plan on doing that today.

So I took my time removing all the rocks, bending at the waist instead of stooping or kneeling. Then I lifted the liner and dug out more of the dirt under it. When I put the liner back down and turned the water pump back on, I smiled with satisfaction. The pool was deeper now and would be perfect to grow some water plants which would shade the lining, control the algae, and eliminate the need for so many smaller rocks.

I proceeded to craft out the pool with a few larger rocks and some plants. Everything went well – until I attempted to place a large rock at the edge of the waterfall. It was a long stretch to reach the middle, and I had nothing to hold on to. I hesitated but then decided if I was careful enough, I could do it. Slowly, I lifted the heavy rock in one hand and bent over the edge of the pool, balancing myself with my other hand outstretched behind me. Six inches to go. Five. Four. It was working. As long as I moved slowly, I was able to lean without having to bend my knee. Three more inches. Two. Slowly, I pushed my limit to reach that last inch – and slowly I felt myself falling. Not into the small pool, which would have been bad enough, but over the edge of the waterfall into the large pond. My life flashed before my eyes. I saw myself falling head first onto the pile of rocks at the bottom of the waterfall and wondered how long it would be before someone discovered me down there covered in algae and goldfish.

No! I was not going to let that happen! I scrambled back as much as I could waving my arms around for balance, and landed hard on my knees with my face inches from the water. Relief was instantly replaced with agony as my bad knee screamed in pain. I took several deep breaths before attempting to stand up. It took a few minutes, but I was able to get to my feet, limp into my house and dig out my knee brace.

After resting and icing my knee for a few days, I was able to walk around again. The weather had turned too cold to go outside, but soon the warm sunny weather returned – and along with it came the temptation to get back to work on pond.

I knew I shouldn’t. I knew my knee needed more time to rest. But the temptation was too strong. If I was careful not to kneel and only worked on the safer parts of the pond, I would be okay. Right? I didn’t fall again, but I now have an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. It seems I’m no match for the urge to create when it comes to an unfinished pond and garden area.

Giving into temptation can hurt us even when we are being careful. We may think we are getting away with it. But there is always a price to pay. An extra five pounds or an empty wallet might not seem to be such a big deal. But that five pounds can become twenty-five over time and that empty wallet can end up with bankruptcy.

Everyone faces temptations every day. Some temptations are easier than others to resist, but they all require self-control. Paul told Timothy that God has given us a spirit of self-control so it’s something we all have even if we aren’t using it. Paul told the Galatians that self-control is a fruit of the Spirit which means it can grow. And Peter warned the early Christians to be self-controlled in these end days which implies it’s a choice. Choosing to exercise self-control in the easier areas can help it to grow strong enough to handle harder or stronger areas.

God warns us away from things for a reason. He can see consequences that we can’t – or sometimes choose not to – see. We sometimes call these things sin, but temptation doesn’t always have to involve sin and they don’t always apply to everyone. Buying the more expensive dress, sleeping in on Sundays, and having an extra piece of cake may not seem like much for some but for others it can easily lead to weakening self-control. In these cases, people exercise their ability to make excuses over their ability to control themselves.

The call of my garden is admittedly a relatively mild temptation but I’ve experienced a greater temptations. Resisting one involved weeks of agonized tears, desperate prayers, and constantly yelling “No!” at myself – but even so I never got to the point that I shed blood like Jesus did in His garden that dreadful night.

We have no excuse. Jesus told the disciples to watch and pray so they wouldn’t fall into temptation. He said no temptation would be too great to handle and that He would always provide a way out. But He does not usually fight this battle for us. Neither can anyone else. It’s up to us to fight our own temptations. But even so, we don’t have to fight them alone. God stands with us in our struggle, and we can ask other people to help. The encouragement and prayers of someone we who will hold us accountable is like the support of the men who held up Moses’s arms during a long and intense battle.

I like to do things myself. I like being self-sufficient. I take pride in my ability to get things done no matter what the challenge. But sometimes, like now as I can feel the pull of my waterfall, it would be wiser for me to reach out to a friend rather than to my gardening gloves.

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Scriptures

But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:12

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Hebrews 12:4

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 1 Peter 4:7

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

For the grace of God as appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age Titus 2:11-12

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it  1 Corinthians 10:13