Garden Wisdom

A garden provides a haven and an explosion of colours. Gardening, a hobby, began in my youth We cultivated sweet basil, sailor cap[periwinkle], coleus[velvet], mint,okra, corn and peas.  In later years I harvested Romaine lettuce, beans, dill seed, radishes, mustard green and a head of cabbage.

"You can pull up the weeds and pull down some vines," Paul suggested.

Since gardening featured prominently on my summer activities calendar,I dressed for it - straw hat, short sleeves and shorts. Paul handed me a pair of pruning shears and a pair of gloves. The shears seemed strange in my hand so I listened to the advice from the expert - who was now my teacher.

Dracena dominated our garden as we had several varieties of plants from that family.Colourful ti plant with its pink leaves and flowers fascinated me. The 'lucky bamboo' grew jointed like  a bamboo - though not as tall. Its white flowers provided a mild scent. However, it invaded the garden. Pull it up, throw it on the heap; and it multiplies there! I tried to pull the plant up by the roots and discovered an endless network! Does that remind you of sin which can be a deeply rooted network? That day  I cleared a six foot square area. What a revelation! Ants swarmed my feet and I knew from their fierce, painful strings that I was trespassing on enemy territory!

"The only way to get rid of lucky bamboo is to burn them," Paul reminded me.

Right on! I thought. How did God say He would destroy sin and sinners?

A vine had entwined itself around the Norway pine and noni tree. After some more advice, Paul left me to complete the task. i pulled at the cerasee vine and snipped it carefully in stubborn places.

'Pull down the strongholds!' I thought My thoughts flashed back to the day  my twin sisters [now deceased] and I committed our lives to united prayer and praise to God. From that commitment we formed The Prayer Connections , an intercessory prayer group who prayed daily for the needs of families, friends and the nation.

Soon, I began praying as I pulled at the cerasee. Before long I realized that sometimes vines intermingled for double strength. Such was the case of the morning glory and cerasee.

'One can put a thousand to flight and two put ten thousand to flight ,' i thought.

Ants attacked again but my brother and I withstood them long enough to reinforce the Noni tree, which was heavy laden with maturing fruits. With the path clear, a large bunch of seagrapes- about eighteen to twenty two inches long - became evident, some of the grapes ripe!

Before long, it was lunch time. As I savoured the Jamaican[custard] apple, mouthwatering, juicy sapodillas, refreshing coconut water and a sandwich, i recognized the value of food. it is vital to renew one's strength in the physical and spiritual  realm. Those who wait on God -not only for Him to grant a request but abiding in His loving  presence- will be empowered to fulfill their mission.