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.

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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!

This post is linked to 

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