THE BOUNTY OF YOUR GARDEN

It’s that time of the year again. Time for all the gardening magazines to take over our mailboxes. Time to start thinking and planning another season of flowers, fruit, and vegetables.

This past week, as I sat looking through a few of the seed magazines while enjoying a hot cup of tea, an idea popped into my head. Again. And as always, it stayed with me, growing, developing, encompassing me, until I sat down and started moving my fingers across my keyboard.

All day long, I thought of all the different varieties of gardens one might plant like all fruit,  all flowers, all vegetables, and rock gardens. I thought about every combination of seeds that would make a garden perfect. I pictured how lovely and productive the garden would be. However, I realized my story would be kind of short if I stuck with that idea, so I thought some more. I closed my eyes and asked for some guidance from above, then waited. Sure enough, as the old saying goes, the light bulb went on.

As I planned my garden, I knew that I would need a lot of seeds.  My plan consists of two long rows of seeds; A, B, C, F, G, H, K, and three long rolls of J, L, P, and S.

First I would start with marking off the area for my new garden.  I am thinking that one-quarter of an acre might be just right.  Then with the help of others, the ground would be plowed and raked until the dirt was just right.   Now it’s my turn to plant the seeds. Seeds that will produce the beauty of flowers and delicious fruits and vegetables. It’s hard work but the end result will be well worth the effort. Especially, if I add a little something extra when the bounty comes due.

What if we could change hearts with what we grow in our garden?  I believe it is possible with time and the words that come into our hearts.

First, I need to explain the letters of the seeds in my garden. B=Believe, C= Compassion, F= Faith, Forgive    G= Grace, H= Hope, K= Kindness, J= Joy, L=Love, and P=Peace.

The Bounty of Your Garden…

This story is for all the gardeners who love to plant, water and watch, hoping for a bumper crop. It’s for all who share the fruits of their labors with family and friends, or perhaps donate to local food banks and homeless shelters.

It starts with prayer and ends with a prayer from day one of thinking about your garden to preparing the soil and planting the seeds. Throughout the season, when watering, pulling the weeds, until the harvest of your bounty, pray for those who will receive the fruits and vegetables and flowers.

I believe when we show kindness, compassion, and love to others through our gifts no matter how small, changes start to stir in the hearts of the recipients. Changes that can make a positive difference in the lives of those who may have lost their faith.  Changes that might replace fear with hope. Changes that might fill a heart with caring; caring enough to pay it forward. Prayers when coupled with love. can make all the difference in the world.

The magic of a bouquet of flowers is like a ray of sunshine to a senior citizen, a lonely neighbor, or anyone going through a tough time.  Add a silent prayer and watch their beautiful smile. It is like looking up at a spectacular rainbow.

So, as you are thinking about your garden, think about those you can help through your bounty and prayers.

Plant the seeds of compassion, hope, faith, joy, love, peace, healing, and love.  Then watch your garden grow.