In early spring Nehemiah, our 4-year-old, decided to use his birthday money to buy some gardening tools and flower seeds. He was adamant that his birthday money be used to create his own flower garden. So Tony took him shopping and they carved out a little section of our backyard and filled it with rich dirt where the seeds were then planted.
I didn’t expect to be taken in by the process, but I have been. We all have been.
In the beginning Tony would protect the little sprouts from downpours and wind by covering them with our recycling bin.
Nehemiah would ask, “Are my flowers okay?”
“Yes, I kept them safe,” Tony would reply.
From the very first green to the very first bloom, it felt as though we were holding our breath, anticipating a miracle. And watching the growth process, seeing tiny sprouts turn into 2 inch thick stems of sunflowers, watching morning glories vine their way around the sunflower stems so they could climb to the sun, and seeing the first colors of bright red zinnias bloom into life, has been nothing short of a miracle. Despite thick heat and flood waters, flowers are blooming, things are springing to life, and we get to watch it all unfold in our very own backyard.
If I had forgotten for a moment that there is great wonder in this world, I am now reminded. Thanks to the wishes of a 4-year-old, CHILDLIKE wonder has returned to me.
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How beautiful…I LOVE how the Morning Glories climbed up that Sunflower. Something I never would have expected…I mean, you’d think that it would strangle out the Sunflower. We’ve managed to kill every single attempt at Sunflowers in the past 4 years. One of these days we’re going to get it!
Tony did have to trim the vine back a bit. It got a bit zealous. Still haven’t seen blooms on the Morning Glory, another miracle to anticipate.
The way the morning glories have wrapped their otherwise weak stems around the strong stem of the sunflower reminds me of how we are weak and need to wrap ourselves around the strength of God’s word in order to see His Son……..and it is only fitting that He used a child to show that to me. Thank you for sharing the “wonder” that is taking place in your little garden. I have been blessed today.
With your permission I would like to post a link to your story and include my thoughts on it on my blog.
Have an awesome day!
Of course Janine! Love your thoughts.
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