Growing, Grace and Gratitude
I have been growing a garden. I have been taking in the beauty of the rich potting and gardening soil, the crisp green leaves, and the fragrant smells of the mint, basil and rosemary. The garden brings me back to my childhood a heart string to the farmers in my family gone before me. I remember the summers spent with my grandparents, my grandfather in particular, remembering how he would proclaim “cutie farmin is not for the weak or faint hearted.” My little garden is not near the size of his, but I also think he would be proud. What he didn’t tell me is the great pride that comes from taking a small seed or beginning plant and seeing it grow! I often think how cool it must of been the first person who saw a red berry peaking forth from under green leaves, and popped it into their mouths! Yum Strawberries! Or the first mint tea…they are all so green, but as you place rosemary or basil or mint in your mouth what a variety God has made for us. I am grateful for each little leaf, for each bud, and my children are fascinated by it all. What a great gift to leave my children.
I am so grateful for my life, for all the little things I have, but it took me awhile to get to that place. One of the latest lessons I learned was from Ann Voskamp’s “One Thousand Gifts” a wonderful read that I highly recommend. Ann has been through her own trials and tribulations, she lost a sibling early in life and that one event left a scar on her and her family. In the book she writes about a challenge she accepts to write 1000 things she is grateful for, and as you can imagine her life begins to change. That’s not to say that life becomes perfect, it never is, the same day to day challenges and events are still there, but with a new lenses to see them through. I once was told if you showed a collage of pictures half negative and half positive to a group of people those with a negative mindset immediately say how awful and depressing the group of pictures are, while the positive say how wonderful the collage.
I do not have a great deal of material things by the worlds standards. I live in a single wide trailer, my tin can cottage I call it. I don’t have designer clothes, or money to travel. I don’t have a fancy car, in fact I knocked the mirror off the side and can’t replace it! LOL Looks a little trashing going through town I suppose. I have collectors call about bills and I have some I wonder how I will ever pay. Do not mistake me though, I know I am much better off than many of my brothers and sisters here in America and in some countries what I have would be a mansion.
What I have is happiness and gratitude for the beautiful orchid I am writing below this very minute. I call her Athena! I am amazed by God’s artwork everyday when I gaze upon her, and that’s just the beginning. Seeing Gods work in my yard, or walking back from my grandmother’s and seeing my little redneck lights on the tin can cottage, or listening to music in my car, I am so grateful. That makes me happy. The Buddhist say to let go of all attachments to people or possessions, because those attachments eventually bring suffering. They say true happiness/peace is joy in a shack or a mansion, it makes no difference because true happiness is within. Jesus said set your mind on heavenly things and not the things of earth. I think he too knew that attachments to material things or fallible people only bring heartache. What I have learned in the past year is less is more. The simpler I can live the less burdens I have on me. You too can have more peace and joy and it begins with noticing all the wonderful things in your life. Even in the storms there is a rainbow, in the chaos often laughter, and even in the dark it’s never long before we see the morning light. Remember to be grateful, give yourself room to grow and a little grace along the way.
I love you and I know you can do it!
#findthegood #Loveoneanother #growsomething
Reflections:
What three things are you grateful for today?
Find time for one hour in nature and explore God’s Glory!
Grow something!
Episcopal Lotus Flower in Bloom 