I am sure I could write a book on how parenting and gardening run such parallel paths! I always laugh and tell Tim that I will never need therapy as long as I have a hose and some flowers to water! Of course, the parenting part is the reason I would NEED therapy, but that is a whole 'nother post! LOL!
At any rate, I was raised in Canada and one of the things I grew to love during my childhood was lilac bushes. I must say, at the time I took them for granted and never truly came to appreciate them as I should until I moved south and found they were a novelty down here. That only served to add to my unceasing desire to own one and thus began my search to find a hardy lilac variety that could withstand the heat and lack of really cold winters down here! (These people think this is cold! Huh!)
I was eventually successful and found a mail-order catalogue that assured me if I bought their lilac bush it would grow in my Zone 8 climate. I fell for it hook, line and sinker and purchased one immediately. It arrived weeks later looking like a forlorn stick, but I trusted them and planted it! And then I waited and watered and waited and watered and nearly lost my mind with the waiting.
The first year...no blooms! The second year...no blooms! The third year...maybe a bloom! The fourth year...I'll give it 5 and the fifth year a generous 6! What I was experiencing in my parenting was repeating itself in my gardening! I was pouring so much TLC into nurturing and caring for my little bush and not getting a whole lot in return! Year after year I was left wondering if I was doing something wrong! I was approaching despair in my desire to see a healthy crop of fruit for my labours until...this year!!
I went out one morning and hesistantly walked over to my lilac bush, certain it was mocking me with every step I took. But then I saw them...close to 20 fragrant blooms ready to bust wide open! And then I heard it...Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal. 6:9)
Just as I do in gardening, I nurture and tend, pull weeds of sin and water the ground with prayer! And in due time, I am able to reap the fruit of my labours in the lives of my children. Just as I am about to give up, I see a blossom that is ready to burst forth with evidence of new life and promise of a sweet aroma!
So on those days when I feel like my parenting skills are sorely lacking and my sanity has a very short shelf life, you'll be sure to find me in my garden...listening to His still small voice as I water and wait!
P.S. That is a vase of my very own lilac blooms proudly displayed on my screened-in back porch...my sanctuary!!! :O)
At any rate, I was raised in Canada and one of the things I grew to love during my childhood was lilac bushes. I must say, at the time I took them for granted and never truly came to appreciate them as I should until I moved south and found they were a novelty down here. That only served to add to my unceasing desire to own one and thus began my search to find a hardy lilac variety that could withstand the heat and lack of really cold winters down here! (These people think this is cold! Huh!)
I was eventually successful and found a mail-order catalogue that assured me if I bought their lilac bush it would grow in my Zone 8 climate. I fell for it hook, line and sinker and purchased one immediately. It arrived weeks later looking like a forlorn stick, but I trusted them and planted it! And then I waited and watered and waited and watered and nearly lost my mind with the waiting.
The first year...no blooms! The second year...no blooms! The third year...maybe a bloom! The fourth year...I'll give it 5 and the fifth year a generous 6! What I was experiencing in my parenting was repeating itself in my gardening! I was pouring so much TLC into nurturing and caring for my little bush and not getting a whole lot in return! Year after year I was left wondering if I was doing something wrong! I was approaching despair in my desire to see a healthy crop of fruit for my labours until...this year!!
I went out one morning and hesistantly walked over to my lilac bush, certain it was mocking me with every step I took. But then I saw them...close to 20 fragrant blooms ready to bust wide open! And then I heard it...Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal. 6:9)
Just as I do in gardening, I nurture and tend, pull weeds of sin and water the ground with prayer! And in due time, I am able to reap the fruit of my labours in the lives of my children. Just as I am about to give up, I see a blossom that is ready to burst forth with evidence of new life and promise of a sweet aroma!
So on those days when I feel like my parenting skills are sorely lacking and my sanity has a very short shelf life, you'll be sure to find me in my garden...listening to His still small voice as I water and wait!
P.S. That is a vase of my very own lilac blooms proudly displayed on my screened-in back porch...my sanctuary!!! :O)
\O/ Beautiful blooms and a beautiful reminder to be diligent and trust. Love you!!
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this today...Garrison is teething and fussy, and Josey just cut her own hair... for the second time(she's to be in a wedding in two weeks.) All of the nurturing and tending can be tiresome when you feel like you can't see even a possible bloom...So, thanks for the reminder. By the way, I grew up with a lilac bush right outside my window in NJ. Lilacs smell like "home" to me too...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barb! What an encouragement.
ReplyDelete