The Gift Garden
Late July in Iowa is a living illustration of what many of us call “the growing season.” Those who had the ambition and this year, especially, the persistence, to plant a garden are seeing the reward of their hard work. It’s also a time when some of us wish we’d made a little more effort so we could have the matchless flavor of home-grown veggies. Consider, then, what it would be like to have a complete stranger plant a garden in the yard of your new home, so that when you moved in, fresh vegetables were ready and waiting for you.
A conversation I had with my dad over thirty years ago has stayed with me because of the generous, welcoming gesture made by a couple I’d known since I was a child. As Dad and I caught up on the news of my home town, he mentioned that our church had called a new pastor, who would be arriving a little later in the summer. Dad’s house was just a couple of doors down from the parsonage, and he commented, “Oh, and Kenny and Elsie Anderson came over the other day and put in a garden.”
Wondering if I’d heard him correctly, I said, “They what??” He pointed out what would be obvious to anyone who had ever grown anything — that by the time the pastor and his family arrived it would be too late to plant. Well, of course it just wouldn’t do to have these folks arrive and see nothing but a bare little patch by the back door, so the Andersons went ahead and got planting. (Now that’s my kind of Welcome Wagon!) After all, how nice it would be for the new family to have fresh carrots, radishes, peas, cucumbers and tomatoes like those growing in everyone else’s gardens. This couple had farmed for years, raised their family, and were such faithful members of our church, that as I reflected on this bit of news, I thought, “Of course they would do this. That’s the kind of people they are. I shouldn’t find it at all surprising.” They had the time, the ability, and the thoughtfulness to give a truly unique gift.
Planting a garden for someone is more than a random act of kindness — it’s really a commitment. They didn’t just seed and plant and walk away. Still to come was the need for weeding, hoeing, probably some watering, and generally caring for this little plot of hospitality. So here is a down-to-earth (rather literally) illustration of fulfilling God’s call to serve one another. We don’t have to have some unique talent or rare knowledge; rather, we just need to be aware of what our abilities are and then use them to serve God by serving others, keeping our eyes and ears open to the possibilities.
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” – I Peter 4:10
Your Friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers