The Heart of the Gardener

As I was working in my garden today I hummed a tune and I thought about the heart of the Gardener...Something I've done every day for the past 3 months. Working the garden that is, not the tune. The tune came later, after my sweet Uncle passed away. At his funeral I celebrated his life by singing one of his favorite hymns called "In the Garden". Whoever wrote this song knew what it was like to be alone with God in a little piece of Eden. Here are a bit of the lyrics:

1. 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.
2. And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
3. And He tells me I am His own;
4. And the joy we share as we tarry there,
5. None other has ever known.

I love this hymn because it paints such a lovely picture of being with Jesus. And for someone like myself, who LOVES being outside with nature, it calls me closer. It makes me think of Adam and Eve and the incredible blessing they had to walk unhindered with their Creator in the most aesthetically beautiful place ever. It makes me want to be still for a moment and know that He is God. And because being still is not a forte of mine AT ALL, I love this song for how it moves me. 

I've long adored the sunshine...The way it creeps into my skin and leaves it's golden mark. My family can attest to my ridiculous attachment to tan skin and sun rays. I love the Georgia heat. I dare say I love the humidity. What about the mosquitoes you say?? Love em'. Just kidding, but I tolerate them. I'm a Georgia peach, I don't know anything else!! When I'm in the sun I feel utterly alive. It's probably just science, but I'd like to believe it's also deeper and more spiritual than that. I reserve the right to romanticize sunshine!

My love for gardening hasn't always been as clear, and it wasn't until a few months ago that I finally found within myself an undeniable green thumb. This year I had an unquenchable need to have a garden. I can't explain it, but I needed it. I tried one the summer I was first pregnant with Clara. But morning sickness stole my thunder and I couldn't maintain it the way I wanted. This year my heart was set. Financially I wasn't sure how I could afford what I wanted. No doubt my adoring husband would have made it possible because that's the man he is. But low and behold my parents blessed us with some raised beds and I was off and running. I spent hours putting them together and finding the perfect positions and spots. I leveled the ground, leveled my beds. I filled them with dirt that I lugged across the yard bucket by bucket... I made Jeremiah fill his truck with dirt from our families business. I mulled over which vegetables to grow and how to position them. I googled and researched. I got creative and re purposed old things and debris from fallen trees. I got OBSESSIVE. I drove my poor husband crazy. He finally said, "I don't care about your garden the way you do." I didn't hold it against him (nor should you...we have an open, honest relationship that way). And it was true, my love for these 32 square feet of land had grown deep roots. 

To say I love going out in my garden each day would be an understatement. I understand why I needed it because when I'm out there, I hear His voice falling on my ear and I soak in the sunshine and I smile. I'm so utterly happy. Which I know is not what life is all about and I know it cannot last forever. (A winter of some sort is always inevitable.) But for this season, I go out and stand in a physical parable of His love and get revelation on His work in His children. I'm looking forward to relaying these simple lessons He's given me. Stay tuned.