Those who know me well know that I greatly enjoy gardening. The dirt, sunshine, and flowers feel like home to me. This is the typical explanation I give those who ask why I like it so much, but there is a great deal more than that. I enjoy it so much because there are valuable, life-long lessons to be learned.
First, and perhaps simplest of all, there is beauty, grace, and light throughout creation. One only need take a few moments out of a busy life and look closely. A breathtaking scent, a vibrant color, and the growth of new life bring peace, joy, and fulfillment to a troubled soul.
Second, (one of the most difficult for me), is that gardening teaches us patience and tenacity. A great deal of care, hard work, and adaptability can mean the difference between a stunning, colorful flowerbed and a pile of invasive weeds! Such is the case when cultivating and growing relationships with people. Care, patience, and adaptability enable us to see the flowers growing in others, not just the weeds life plants.
Gardening teaches us that, sometimes, change is needed to thrive. Poor soil, lack of nourishment, and too little or too much sun can destroy a beautiful garden. Such is also true of us as humans. Sometimes, we need to change our environment in order to nourish ourselves, to thrive as we were meant to. It does not make us bad or underachieving, it simply makes us human, a testament to the need for an enriched and fulfilled life.
Finally, and perhaps the most difficult lesson of all, humans, like flowers, will not always bloom and thrive. There are periods of great beauty and periods of receding growth, of waxing and waning. However, beneath the surface, growth remains and the beautiful blossoms always return with the right care. This is true throughout every growing season and every season of life.
You, my dear reader, are a beautiful, vibrant flower just waiting to bloom. Always remember that beauty fades and begins anew with the passing seasons, but growth and care remain constant. Even amidst the aesthetically less-pleasing times of our lives, our God-given beauty remains and a new bloom lies dormant, waiting for its time again.
Creativity
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I’ve never thought much about gardening in these ways. Thanks for sharing!