Garden Delight by Julie Reed

He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat (trouble) comes; its leaves are always green.

Jeremiah 17:8

By Julie Reed

April 15, 2012

Spring is one of my favorite seasons.  I love to sit out on my patio doing a morning devotion and take in all the wonderful creations from God.  I can see all the new growth on the trees, bulbs peeking up from the earth,  and hear the birds singing melodic tunes through the air and the feeling evoked from all this “newness” is a happy, content feeling, that life is just good.

Since we have moved to our new home, we have been so busy fixing things and trying to organize box after box that I haven’t had time to think about the state of our yard much.  My daughter has been faithfully nagging me about our garden.  At our “old” house, we gardened together all the time.  We planted sunflower seeds each fall and we wrote out the word “LOVE” for Christmas in impatiens.  I love to garden with her.  She notices all the little things that I sometimes take for granted.  The sprout of carrot that is just barely peeking through the soil.  The tiny worm wiggling around and helping our plants get “really big.”  So, after a few weeks of hearing her wishing about our new garden, we went shopping.  We decided to tackle a small veggie and herb garden first.

We hit the store and got all the veggies and herbs that we liked the best and a few for brother too.  We prepped our soil.  We made sure all the rocks were gone and we added in a really nice brick border.  We carefully mapped out our plan and then we started putting in our plants and seeds.  Sheer delight was across both of our faces as we stood back and enjoyed our hard work after giving our new garden a good, long drink of cool water.

The next morning, she was the first one up and headed out to see how things were “growing.”  She watered everything again.  She informed me that things were looking good and I needed to be patient.  God would take care of it for us.

She was right.  Within a few short days our green beans peeked out along with some lettuce, carrots and cucumbers.  The tomatoes and herbs were happily stretching up toward the warm sun as well.

It has now been almost a month since we planted our garden and blooms are everywhere.  We have blossoms on our peppers, blueberries, cucumbers and beans.  Our tomatoes have nice green fruit on almost every branch.  Spring is officially here and we can’t wait to partake.

Now, what on earth does this story have to do with widowhood?  It’s simple.  We are all like the seeds or small plantings that we so carefully took care of and watched over.  As widows, we need to be sure that our “roots” remain close to God and planted in good soil (His Word) so that we will have a firm and deep foundation when the thunderstorms come our way.

I think of our tears as the rain water that the plants need for growth.

It says in Revelations that He will wipe every tear from us.  He knows our sorrow.  He understands our sorrow.  He allows those tears to flow as part of the healing and growth that we need to keep drawing ourselves closer to Him.

I think of the fertilizer used to help bring some strength and extra nutrients to the new growth and plants as our friends.  Those people who have come along side of us and prayed with us.  Held our hands.  Brought us meals.  Provided for us monetarily or through gifts.  Those who have just sat and listened with us or offered that hug or smile that we desperately craved in those long, lonely days, weeks or months.

And finally the sun.  Plants need the sun for warmth and growth and quite frankly, we need the Son, for the exact same reasons.  The Son comforts us in those deep, dark valleys and reminds us that the Sonlight, ALWAYS overcomes the darkness.  The Son helps us grow in our faith and in our beliefs that there is more to this life here on earth.  The Son makes us look up.  In order to see that goodness and feel that warmth, our faces need to be turned to Him, just like the leaves in our garden.

My prayer is that you will plant your roots deep in His Word.  Cry the tears of healing and growth whenever you need to.  Reach out to your friends and allow them to be the fertilizer that you need them to be.  But, most importantly, don’t take your eyes off of the Son.  He’s always “tending” to you, whether you feel Him or not, He’s our ultimate gardener.