Yesterday I was busy with the tasks of installing a new screen door. As I worked on that project I walked back and forth to my tool shed. This route took me by a little raised garden that my wife and I have. Its demensions are perfect for our purposes (24 ft long and 5 ft wide) and it has raised sides that are ab out 12 inches above the ground. It gets plenty of sunshine, the soil warms early in the growing season and we have a nearby water supply to aid in plant growth.
The growing medium is a combination of bog humus, sand, mulch, and sawdust. To enhance the soil we have occasionally added some garden fertilizer. From this plot we have an ample supply of various vegetables which we enjoy as soon as they come into fruition. (We have rhubarb, onions, bush beans, carrots, beats, tomatoes, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, radishes, lettuce, potatos and peas.) We cover it with netting and our natural enemy, White Tailed deer, stay away because they don't like getting tangled in the mesh which they have a hard time seeing.
Although I help with the raised garden, my wife is the real gardener as this is one of her main occupations during the growing season. She tends no less that 5 gardens in two locations, plus maintains several flower beds, potted arrangements and individual plants. As a sign of her success we have fresh bouquets on our kitchen table from early spring to late in the fall. They are beautiful reminders of the grace and love of God and the gardener who puts them there.
In the bible there are several gardens mentioned. The garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the garden in which the Lord was buried, are just a few.
As I considered the concept of gardening it occurred to me that it is futuristic in every sense. What I mean is that each garden planted is one that looks forward to another time. It relies on the promise and blessing of God, and it brings to the gardener the potential of ultimate fulfillment. When I plant the tiny seeds of a tomato, for example, I look forward to having perhaps a bushel or two of delicious red fruit for our family table. If you plant lettuce it continues to provide wonderful leaves that are crisp and tasty for as long as six to eight weeks.
In each case for the gardens mentioned from the Bible there is a future to be looked forward to as well. Life, trial, and eternity come to mind as I consider the anticipated outcomes. The resurrection garden especially captures my attention because from the sepulchre of death came forth the gift of life that is intended for the enjoyment of all. Thanks Lord for your gardens, and the gardener companion you have given me to share.
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