Mario began a flower island in our backyard a few years ago, he has inherited the “green thumb gene” from his mother. At first the island was something to brighten up and add color to the landscape however eventually the garden became a labor of love we shared together. Several months ago we were working outside tending to the garden. There was a certain flowering plant i did not like at all! It was more of a groundcover and it looked dead. I really wanted it gone! After much discussion we compromised. The plant would be removed from the garden and placed in a pot. Mario unearthed the plant to make it easy for me to pull out and place in the pot. Honestly the entire time inside I was frustrated that we had to keep this plant at all. While pulling the plant out I twisted my knee and tore my meniscus. The pain was horrific and it was all because of this stupid ugly plant!!!
Thankfully my knee is on the mend.
Today we stopped by the landscaping store to pick up some summer additions to our garden. We were moving things around and i glanced over to a pot by the barbeque. There was the most beautiful flowering plant cascading down this pot, a deep purple color. I realized that plant was my nemenius! This was the plant that was ugly, dead and inconveniently placed in the island. As I looked at the plant I felt God’s whisper! This plant had been wounded and needed special care, the kind only a true gardener could give. Mario saw its potential and its beauty when i did not.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” John 15:11.
As I pondered this moment God began to impress on my heart that He is the one who cares for the garden of our soul. Jesus heals our brokenness and binds up our wounds, Psalm 147:3. I was reminded how incredibly grateful I am for those who see the potential and the beauty in the wounded, seeing them through God’s eyes. Those with scares, ugly, diseased, doomed, lifeless but when the True Gardener, Jesus, cares for them through His hands and feet (the church), loves them through mercy and compassion (the church), places them in good soil (the church) and speaks life into their soul and spirit (the church), their beauty and potential bless us all.
A few weeks ago i met Michael at church, he looked rough. The hard life he has lived was seen in his face and demeanor. We were both getting coffee, a fantastic blessing to him. Our eyes met and I smiled, I cannot express the beautiful toothless smile and joy that came back to me as he shared a little about his life and his love of Jesus. We shook hands and talked a little longer. Since then I have seen him several times at church and each time as we shake hands or hug, saying hello, his joy inspires me and is changing me. You see when God began to whisper to me about this plant, Michael came to my mind because he was like that plant! So many people are throwaways in society. They are the ones no one really sees and when they must look they only see the ugly, scared, uselessness, and inconvenience.
There is a parable in Luke chapter 14 about a man that was preparing a fabulous banquet inviting many guests to come yet excuses kept them from accepting his invitation. So the master of the house tells his servants, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ Luke 14:21 but there was still room.
The plant like the poor, the physically challenged, the broken with scared lives cost us something. We must be tolerated, accepting, gentle, hopeful, kind, helpful. The pain of growth, of having to look and feel, the pain of sacrifice and the choice to choose mercy over judgement. The lesson i learned in the garden was the ones we so often want to throw away have the greatest potential and beauty to change our lives and show us God.
Lord open our eyes to the ones you see.
Lord open our hands to the ones who need your help
Lord guide our feet to the ones you are inviting
Lord fill our heart with your love, compassion and mercy so that your house may be full. Amen
From my heart to yours,
DaNetta
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful message. I enjoyed it. I hope your knee is still healing well.
Beautiful
This was just beautifully said and felt. Thank you so much for this.