Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth. // 1 Corinthians 3:7
After bedtime prayers and tucking my children snugly into their beds, I step outside into the warm summer evening and walk back to my beloved garden. The dahlias are in full bloom, and the rows of cosmos sway gently in the breeze. Monarch butterflies dance among my zinnias and a bumblebee sleeps on a sunflower. I pick cherry tomatoes so sweet they taste like candy, and clip a cucumber or two from the rambling vine. September is my garden’s month of glory.
This didn’t happen overnight, of course. I planted my first round of seeds in my basement in the cold, dark winter days of late February. As springtime dawned I prepared my garden’s soil, amended it with fresh compost, and pulled up countless weeds. After the chance of frost had passed, I finally tucked my many seedlings into the earth for them to take root. All summer long I water and I fertilize and I weed. I chase away rabbits, watch for anything that might cause my plants stress, and weed and water some more. I tend and nurture, but this garden glory is not mine. It is all His, for God caused the growth.
The Lord has taught me so much about the spiritual life in my garden. He has met me there in every grace-filled moment I have opened myself to His presence. What a generous gift to be chosen by Him as His co-worker in bringing beauty to the world.
Each of us is called to co-creation with God, our Creator, and this begins in how we allow Him to tend to our souls. Spend some time today in the garden of your heart. Is the soil rocky, or rich and fertile? What seeds is the Holy Spirit planting? Are there any sins that keep sprouting up like those incessant weeds? Do you need more of the Living Water for your garden to flourish? What is blooming and bringing the Lord great joy? Ask the Lord to help you grow more like Him.
Elise Howe is a wife, mother, vocal artist, and teacher. She is most joyful when creating with the inspiration of the Divine Artist. Elise hopes to live a life full of authentic beauty—especially through her song, her cut-flower garden, great books, delicious ice cream, and her yes to the Father. A born-and-raised Midwestern gal, she happily resides in Michigan with her husband, son, and three daughters. She was a contributing author to Set a Fire and Blessed Conversations: Misericordia.
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