As soon as I walked through the garden gate I was amazed at the seemingly endless diversity and variety thriving all around this little piece of heaven.    A wild assortment of color was emerging and flourishing in every nook and cranny.  Flowers, fruits, veggies and herbs each unite and mingle to create a one of a kind masterpiece that is reborn every where someone loves and cares for his garden.

        I secretly watched as the gardener carefully watered and cared for the young plants growing in his greenhouse.  One day they will take their place amongst the mature plants; soon people will stand amazed as they behold their beauty, but not today.  Today, they are being nurtured and looked after by caring hands and a loving eye.  Not because they are beautiful today, but because the gardener knows what they could look like after a few weeks of the proper nourishment.

        We have a lot in common with this fortunate foliage.  We too have a great Heavenly Gardener who lovingly watches over us.  He brings days of rain and sunshine into our lives because he knows we need both to grow strong and beautiful.  His pruning knife we mistakenly label as misfortune, pain and tragedy; but He knows that all these things will ultimately work together for our good.  Yes, the one whose first construction site was a garden knows what we need to not only survive but to thrive.

        And the good news is, today we can be just like our glorious Gardener from Galilee.  We can choose to help someone grow.   We can foster an atmosphere where people feel comfortable to be themselves and reach for the good things of life.  We can nurture a struggling child.  We can help a friend who has stumbled and fallen.  We can support an older family member who is dying to hear an encouraging word.  All around us are people who have no one who truly cares for them.  Why not fill your water bucket and find someone today who needs a drink. 

Something to think about:

• A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.

• Courtesy is the quality of heart that overlooks the broken garden gate and calls attention to the flowers beyond the gate.

• The man who raises roses in his garden also does a kindness to his neighbors.

• Friendship is a plant which must often be watered.

• Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.

• Storms make oaks take deeper roots.

• The roots of happiness grow deepest in the sod of service.

• We blossom under praise like flowers in sun and dew; we open, we reach, we grow.

• When you help others to grow, you grow yourself.

Thankful for a great Gardener
Rickey Moore