I don’t know what it is about gardening. It is work, but somehow it is relaxing and even therapeutic. As long as I don’t spend too much time pulling weeds, trimming, or whatever, I feel encouraged and refreshed as I’m spending the time outside.

Did I somehow inherit some kind of “gardening” or “farming” gene from my Swedish grandpa who spent his life as a farmer in Nebraska? Every growing season I look forward to taking care of a flower garden and a vegetable garden, even though it isn’t exactly easy in this Colorado climate with inconsistent rainfall, hailstorms,and sometimes scorching days and cool nights. Not to mention a shorter growing season because of late snow in May, and an early fall freeze.

Many times being outside gardening has been a stress-reliever. I remember working outside through my tears as I grieved for my youngest brother, Robert, as he was battling Hodgen’s Disease. It was a time to pray and clear my mind as I worked. (He is healthy again–for several years now–praise the Lord!)

I have to admit I tend to favor the flowers over the vegetables. It seems more enjoyable to look at and smell the flowers as I’m working. The vegetables are the “functional” crop. It is worth the work in the end, since the whole family, and even friends and neighbors, can enjoy eating the fruit of that labor. This year, we’re growing pumpkins, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, green beans, and tomatoes. We have a new strawberry patch, just planted last year, which is done producing for now. (J. was so kind to put up a fence which totally enclosed the strawberry patch, to keep birds from eating the ripe berries. 🙂 )

Sarah took the picture above, which shows part of our flower garden along the driveway, including some “Blue Angels”. (I forget the real name; they are originally red flowers.) A fun thing about the flower garden is that it is constantly changing all season, as different flowers bloom at different times.

Some of you may think it’s crazy to actually enjoy gardening work, but it brings me joy and I see it as one of God’s gifts. I’ll close with these verses from Ecclesiastes. (It may not all apply to this subject, but it’s a cool passage!)

“. . . as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”
Ecclesiastes 5:19-20

Hey! I’m trying this out for the first time, so we’ll see. . .

“Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord;
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.”
Psalm 127

Lately I’ve been thinking about how blessed I am to be a mother. My kids are so awesome! I’m not talking about how successful they are with activities and things; I mean how their characters reflect our Lord Jesus Christ.

God has given John a heart for missions. He’s been on several short-term missions trips, and now is preparing to spend a month in Cameroon, West Africa. (And God is teaching me to trust Him more as I let John go!)

Sarah brings music into our home with her violin and piano playing–and several students she is teaching, too. She has been growing even closer to God recently since she and her boyfriend broke up. I am so impressed with her attitude as she meets various “bumps in the road.”

Rebecca is on a missions trip right now, with our church’s youth group and two other youth groups together. She is on her way to Victoria, Canada to work with some native people there (with Y.W.A.M.). She also has been growing into a beautiful young lady who is following the Lord. What an encouragement she is to me!

And then there’s Stephen. What would we do without him? (We’ve been at his youth baseball tournament games all weekend.) 🙂 I can see God working in his life, as he is learning so much. He is an active and also a sensitive boy. I appreciate how he talks to me.

Anyway, I don’t mean to brag, and of course my children aren’t perfect. I just feel blessed by God to have these kids. It’s nothing we have done or not done: it’s His grace and His amazing gifts to us–to J. and me. I don’t understand many of His ways, but I want to thank Him for my children, and for the special relationships we have.