You might not be a gardener if you purchase annuals thinking it will save you money by not having to buy more flowers next year. Yes, that really happened. As I was planting them, my neighbor watched for a moment and then she said, “You don’t know what you’re doing!” “I know,” I replied, “but I’m having a great time!”
A few months ago I heard, “Every relationship has a gardener and a flower.” In some of my relationships I know I’m the gardener. Just like planting those flowers, I don’t always know what I am doing. I do know one thing though, flowers are fragile and when around them, one must be very careful. As the gardener, you should show love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The fruit of the Spirit of God. (Gal. 5:22-23)
The most common way to water a relationship is with words, but the ones chosen should be selected with wisdom. Do not speak to someone about issues in their life with a heart half listening. You like them, don’t you? Listen with intent. Pay attention. Be focused on them and please, I repeat, please do not look at your phone.
Realizing time is a valuable gift, giving it to someone can cost you so much. We, ourselves have so much to do and to get done. It seems as if there just isn’t enough time.
Don’t let them see the price tag attached to your time, and be extravagant!
Whenever I don’t know how to do something, or what to say to someone, I turn to God and ask him to give me words, or instructions. God loves us so much and is always available to talk to us. He gives you all the time you want, and he knows what to say.
God waters you enough to allow you to grow at the right speed.
He also knows how much to shine upon you. God, is a good, good gardener. Oh, and as for the price, his son, Jesus paid it for you.
Trust the master gardener to show you how to feed, and nourish someone else. I have come to recognize I enjoy gardening, in the spiritual sense. So I guess I would have to change the title now to, “I’m a Gardener”.
Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
brady, mark a. 
Excellent! One of the beauties is that He is able to make us someone’s flower at the same time we are being someone else’s gardener.
You are so right. That’s why I said, “In some relationships I am the gardener”, but I know I am the flower in other relationships I have. In one of those such relationships, God uses the gardener to teach and train me, and I am so grateful. Thanks for reading. May God bless you as a gardener and a flower.
And my God bless you, Mark. It appears you are listening for His voice and seeking His face. May your heart be ever turned toward Him.
Thank you so much!