I have a garden.
I am not a gardener.
Sure, I like to potter about the garden, to make it look good. But I don’t really know what I’m doing. If the plants can’t survive periods of neglect followed by severe pruning they’re obviously not hardy enough!
Recently we took a family visit to a local historic castle. The gardens surrounding the crumbling ruins were spectacular. The arrangement of the plants, the colours and the scents combined to produce a beautiful work of art. One visitor admiring the flowerbeds and seeing a gardener within earshot commented, “The gardener’s toil is not in vain.”
Kiss of the sun for pardon.
Song of the birds for mirth.
You’re closer to God’s heart in a garden
than any place else on earth.
Dorothy Frances Gurney (1858 – 1932)
A beautiful garden is no accident. It takes skill, planning and preparation. It takes years of experience and patient dedication, working to turn a dream into a reality. It takes work through the cold months of winter and the heat of summer.
A well maintained garden is not just food for the eyes; it is a haven. Everywhere you look you find the signs of life. The birds and bees congregate. The tired and stressed find relief and relaxation.
Creating an eye-catching garden is not a one-off job. There can be no standing still; my own garden is testament to this fact. Pruning and planting, watering and weeding. There is always something to be done. We may stop for a while to enjoy the view but the weeds do not.
A good relationship is like a beautiful garden. There is nothing quite like the sweetness of a great marriage to bring life, hope and peace to all those that come near.
Do not allow the weeds of unresolved conflict, presumption or unrealistic demands to spoil your garden. Yes, it takes work but enjoying the fruit of your labour is a sweet, sweet reward.
The gardener’s toil is not in vain.
