My Garden

I don’t have a green thumb. In fact, if my husband has to go out of town, he leaves VERY strict instructions regarding his plants: Don’t touch the plants. Don’t water the plants. Don’t even TALK to the plants. He knows my secret – plants would sooner commit suicide than languish under my care, because whether I love them too much, or neglect them completely, they are surely going to die a slow, painful death.

But I DO have a garden. It isn’t a garden of plants; it’s a garden of friends – and there are all kinds of friends in this garden. Some are lilies– strong and independent – a flower of beauty individually and when combined in a bouquet. Some are daisies – complicated with many layers, but spreading sunshine to everyone they come in contact with. Some are violets – shy and retiring, content to be part of the background. Some are pansies – their bright colors making every one smile. Some are roses, covered with thorns, but when someone takes the time to look past the prickles, he or she finds a blossom of exquisite beauty and fragrance. Most of them have qualities of more than one flower, but combined they make my garden a beautiful place to spend time.

Many of my friends might be surprised with my choice of flower for them. Most of the time, we do not see ourselves the way that people around us see us. I don’t know which flower my friends might see me as, although I hope most of the time it’s not an annoying weed.

When I was a very young girl, my favorite hymn was “In the Garden.” I felt like that song had been written just for me because of the chorus:

“And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we TARRY there,
None other has ever known.”

I had not yet learned to read, and I thought this song had my name in it. Anytime we were allowed to pick favorite hymns – this was ALWAYS my choice.

As an adult, this is still one of my favorite hymns, but for different reasons:

“I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.”

To sit quietly in my garden of friends, to fellowship with Jesus and with them, nothing could be sweeter.