Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Shelter from the Flower Garden



However big or small your garden is, if you allow nature to touch your spirit, gardening will bring returns of peace, satisfaction, and well-being for as long as you continue to wander the garden path. ~Norman H. Hansen


Flower gardens.  Is there anything more relaxing than wandering through a garden?  When I am in my Aunt Jean's backyard it's easy to answer that question.  It's not just that the flowers are so beautiful -- although they are -- but each plant has its own special story.  One may be transplanted from her sister's garden, another from her aunt's.  A rose bush may be a gift from one of her children... and there's even a plant I gifted her.


In the garden of Aunt Jean's heart is another garden.  And in that garden plants of grace abound.  Aunt Jean wasn't a Christian when I was growing up.  Enter God's grace and I saw such blossomed beauty in this sweet lady.  Now when I attend the church I grew up in, I get to sit beside her and worship the God we both love.

Garden Moment Getaways
In Emilie Barnes' book, Garden Moment Getaways:A Welcome Refreshment for the Soul, one chapter is entitled, "Garden of Healing." Emilie included this quote by Cindy Crosby:  "My garden is my healing place, a hospital ward for nursing my wounded spirit."  Aunt Jean has walked a road none of us wish to travel -- she has buried two of her adult sons, Tom and Marvin.  Through the multiplied pain Aunt Jean has continued to tend to her garden -- and to her heart-garden -- removing any roots of bitterness Satan has tried to plant.

Paul in 2 Corinthians says, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."  Aunt Jean is sowing bountifully -- not only in her physical garden, but also in the garden of God.  Tulips of love, jonquils of joy, lavender of love, peonies of peace, gladiolus' of giving, Fuji mums of faith and roses of redemption -- they all grow there, mixing a plethora of colors into a rainbow of  hope.  "Where flowers bloom so does hope" (Lady Bird Johnson). Samuel tells us, "(God) rekindles burned out lives with fresh hope, restoring dignity and respect in their lives -- a place in the sun" (1 Samuel 2:8).


You may never meet my dear aunt, but I hope you take time this week to tell your aunt how much she means to you.  My sweet niece, Pam, recently blessed me with her kind words -- my heart fills with joy when I think of them.

After I wander through Aunt Jean's garden, we sit in the kitchen and drink a cup of tea.  There's a Japanese Proverb that says, "If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty."  As I catch up on my cousins' lives and sip my tea, my heart overflows with thanksgiving -- not only for my Aunt Jean, but for the gentle wooing of the Holy Spirit who placed a yearning for God in her heart.  And I marvel at the beauty of her life.

* * * * *

Idea-lifted Wreath

I totally idea-lifted this wreath from Cracker Barrel.  When I saw their garden hose wreath I loved it.  I needed a wreath for my back door but why buy one if you can make it for less.  As soon as I finished it I knew I needed to make one for my Aunt Jean.  And since I'm going to be in Pennsylvania soon, it was perfect timing.  

For once I was thankful for RB's tendency to keep things "no longer useful."  Bless his heart, he was kind enough not to say "aren't you glad I saved it" when he delivered the cut up hose to me.  I wrapped the hose around a couple times and wired it together.  Added some flowers and a bow and it was done.  

 I have maybe $7.00 in the wreath -- cheap enough to add a book.  I found Emilie Barnes' Garden Moment Getaways at Family Book Store.  It was on sale for 4.97 and with my 25% off coupon was able to get it for $3.75.  I'm not sure why I didn't buy the other three they had.  They'd be perfect paired with flower seeds or bulbs, a pair of garden gloves or a bouquet of flower from your garden.  I'd love to hear if you have other ideas -- I may just have to go back for the rest of the books!

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32 comments:

Unknown said...

I love to read your blog. I love all of the ideas. The "small" things that you do, really are big things. :) I am happy to know you.

c.w.frosting said...

How pretty & perfect for gardening season! I live in an apartment & have no lawn or garden :(

-caroline @ c.w.frosting

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Hello Pamela, your aunts garden sounds like the peaceful place we all love to visit. I also have a beautiful garden tneded by my husband. He likes to do it so I let him. Tending a garden is also good therapy, as you watch God in nature and feel His gentle touch in a petal unfolding.. Yes a garden is a special place, especially when full of plants and flowers given as gifts from others. Much love Crystal Mary.

Rebecca said...

Yet another wonderful post, Pamela. I've spent more time than usual in "gardens" this week - both helping a friend weed in their vegetable garden and weeding in our own flower beds! The wreath IS a lovely idea.

I have one aunt still living. She is the sweetest person I've ever known. Gentle & full of kindness. She lives quite a distance from me, but you have stimulated me to write a note today.

Have a blessed day as you enjoy the goodness that you extend to others come back to you♥

Anonymous said...

That's our sweet Aunt Jean! So many happy memories of time spent with her -- made some more this week as I ate breakfast with her several mornings at our church conference.

I am so grateful God has blessed you, dear sister - mine!, with such a wonderful talent of seeing someone's gifts and real person and then catching it for us all to see as we read your posts!

Melodie

Anonymous said...

I'd love to visit Aunt Jean's garden...I don't think I ever have, unless it was when I was too little to remember!

Love the wreath!
PJ2

SavingsIsFree.com said...

That is very creative. New follower from Its almost Friday, Please stop by for a visit.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

what a beautiful message.....thanks Pamela

Melanie C. said...

Mom, I love the wreath! ...Only problem is that Dad now has a good excuse to keep more stuff - seeing that it came in handy this time around...!
Love you and think you are fantastic!

Grandma Yellow Hair said...

So very nice to meet you. I am very happy to find your site this morning.
Enjoyed my visit and looking forward to getting to know you
Maggie

Mumbai Florist said...

That is so creative and ideologist. That is nice idea that nothing is small or big, only your attention and hard work toward that decide.

Unknown said...

I am so glad you found me via thankful thursday!!! How blessed am I to now be a follower! :)

memakingdo said...

Thanks for finding me, and your sweet comment. I love your wreath. I dream of someday having a beautiful flower gargen like your aunts.

Nancy said...

Your precious heart just surges through your words......I love reading your post......Gardening is very special to me for I love the rewards of weeding and planting and taking care of flowers......much like your Aunt Jean....

I also enjoy the ideas you give us....the wreath is great....I think I will try one myself.....

Unknown said...

Ty for the compliment. I got your follow back from Locomotion of Expressions

Janice said...

Thanks for visiting at my blog and for the lovely comment! This is such a nice blog. The word that jumped immediately into my mind was "peaceful." Thanks again.

asiadeli said...

Hi,thanks for visiting and following my blog. I'm following you back :)
http://freedelicacies.blogspot.com
Thank you

peggy aplSEEDS said...

what a lovely post about your Aunt. i hope i can be like her to my niece and nephews! and what a great project with your hose. i also have the tendency to keep things just in case i can make something out of it!

Anonymous said...

Hi Pamela! It was so good of you to visit me at The Writer's Reverie, so I knew I must return the visit - and how your post has blessed me this morning. I love to use the metaphors of Creation to describe the wonders of our God, and gardens with beautiful growing things are ripe with God Truths! And, yes - you did inspire me to create and give new life to something destined for the trash heap - another wonderful God Truth metaphor I daily employ. That hose wreath is perfect! I shall make a note of it. I have a gardening friend I hope to interview for an upcoming post who would love such a gift. Looking forward to more joyful meditations under your Sheltering Tree.
Joy!
Miss Kathy

Carrie @ My Favorite Finds said...

Hi, Pamela. Your blog is beautiful and so peaceful! I am so glad you stopped by from Money Saving Mom-because that's how I found you!

Have a wonderful weekend in the Lord!

Carrie

Lynn said...

Pamela, I love your writing. It grabs my heart from the first sentence and won't let go until the very last word. You have a gift. There is such gentleness in your words but also "treasure" buried in the post for us to uncover and savor. Your Aunt Jean sounds like such a lovely lady. Thank you for stopping by my blog and leaving such a lovely comment. Blessings on your day.

Esther Joy said...

I loved your thoughts about gardens, ...and about your aunt and the garden of her heart. You are so right about plants having stories - some from very special people in my life.

Donna said...

Thanks for stopping by Pot of Gold Giveaways! I'm following back.

Donna

Fresh Garden said...

Wonderful! Awesome! A great post!

Esther Asbury said...

Love the comparison between our hearts and gardens. Love the wreath as well....maybe there is a place for "pack-rats" in the world! (smile)

Cindy said...

What a perfectly sweet post and what a lovely gift idea, the wreathe and the book. Very precious!
Hugs, Cindy

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post Pamela. Always delightful to visit with you. God bless!

Pat said...

HI Pamela - you have a lovely blog! Thank you for visiting mine and becoming a follower...that means a lot to me.
My Grammy loved her rose garden (& she was also an excellent baker) and one of my earliest memories is of her singing the old traditional hymns as she worked. I can still hear her voice - "I come to the garden alone...and He walks with me & He talks with me..."

Ruth said...

What a great idea for a wreath! And I liked your thoughts on gardening, not just the physical kind.

Allison @ House of Hepworths said...

I love that you used a hose for the wreath form! So brilliant and adorable. Also, great post. I love your writing.

Allison @ House of Hepworths

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How pretty & perfect for gardening season! I live in an apartment & have no lawn or garden.

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