In His hand, He held the tender, young plant. He could see that with good soil, light, and water, she could become a glorious reflection of His master gardening.
Taking His shovel, He carried her to the garden. She grew excited as He neared the beautiful flowerbed near the center of the garden. This was where she wanted to be! Right where everyone could watch her bloom and grow into a prize-winning flower.
On He walked until He reached the side of the old garden shed where there sat a dilapidated, old window box.
“No, no!” she cried out. “This isn’t where you should put me! My beautiful petals would be to much more advantage in the center flowerbed. Nobody will see me here and all my growing will be for nothing.”
“Hush,” He lovingly whispered. “This is exactly where you will bloom the best.”
Carefully, He set her in the window box, covered her roots with the rich soil, and gently watered her. Giving one last tender look, He picked up His tools and left the garden.
The sun shone, the soil warmed, and the life-giving rain fell on her little plot in the corner of the garden by the old, worn-down shed.
But something was happening in that little window box. Her roots grew, her stem hardened, and little blooms began to appear next to her beautiful green leaves.
She found she liked the shelter that the old garden shed gave her from the winds that whipped through the center of the garden. The drainage offered by the old window box was exactly what her type of plant needed. And she got much more tender care and watering by the Gardener Himself because of where she had been planted. Weeds couldn’t get to her, as well as people stepping on her.
She was thriving, but she didn’t know it. All she knew was that she was happy in the corner He had given her.
Then one day the Gardener brought some people through. They walked right past the center flowerbed with all its beautiful flowers that stretched so high, so far, and so wide. Dazzling beauty in every direction . . . . but they were not there to see them.
Pausing in front of her, the Master Gardener spoke.
Her beauty has taken this old, worn-out, dilapidated garden shed and has turned it into the centerpiece of my garden.”
Nobody saw the old shed anymore . . . . .
because of the courageous little flower blooming
in its window box.
Republished from 2012.
- The Adventum CD Collection – Sale Now - March 27, 2021
- Alternative To Facebook Option - January 30, 2021
- The Beauty of the Hoary Head - January 2, 2021
Jacqueline @ Deeprootsathome.com says
Kendra, this is such a beautiful story to illustrate what we are to do. Did you write it? I love gardening and will remember it. Do you love to garden, too?
Kendra Graber says
Yes, I wrote it! And gardening to me is like playing. 🙂 Things like this help me to visualize my Christian walk.
Pamela says
“She was thriving, and didn’t know it.” So much encouragement for me in that statement. What a creative way to present the truth.
Blessings,
Pamela
Patricia Wiens says
This is beautiful!
Dorcas Showalter says
This is exactly what I needed to read today. Many days I feel like I am abundantly thriving, and then there are days like today and yesterday, when I seem to lose my focus for abit.
Kendra says
Yes, it is easy to lose our focus – especially (for me) the times that I turn it upon myself. God bless you!