When I think about gardening, it doesn’t seem simple. It takes work, thought, care, planning, and maintenance to get and keep a garden going. I’m not the least bit knowledgeable about gardening, but for some reason, seeds in my care grow. Every year as the ground thaws and my bulbs begin to pop, I have grand visions of the beauty I will create in our yard. I always seem to forget the ways I have tried in the past and have failed. I forget how the critters nibbled my seedlings down to nothing. I forget how I neglected watering and how the sun fried my gorgeous hydrangeas. No, I don’t think of these things. Instead I dream about an outdoor sanctuary.

My seedlings are all growing nicely now and bit by bit I am planting. I’ve planted flowers that were gifted to me and a few I picked up at Trader Joe’s. I’ve got my clippings set to propagate and waiting for them to grow roots. I’ve got a ways to go but I’d like to think that this will be the year I stick to it. That this year in my pursuit of simplicity, I will create that peaceful outdoor space where I can lay in my hammock and read a book or write a poem, where family and friends can gather for a firepit or an outdoor movie.

While the process of gardening is far from simple, I can think of few things that produce more of a stress-free feeling than getting my hands in the dirt and putting pretty things in it. When I am working in the dirt, planting, watering, pruning, my mind is focused on the task at hand. I’m not thinking about what is next or what other pressing things I need to get done. I’m out there by choice because the pressing things are done for the moment. I can focus. I can breathe. I can simply be, knowing that the Lord’s creation is perfect and his plan is simple.

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:7

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isiah 64:8

Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11

Heavenly Father you are a wonderful creator. You are good all of the time. You never change. Thank you for your creation. Thank you that you not only created humans in your image but you created the earth for us to work and enjoy. Thank you for flowers. Thank you for the simple work we can do with our hands. We make life so complicated sometimes. Thank you for your never ending love, that we can rest in what you provide for us and know that it is enough for today. Lord, I know people might be feeling like I am right now, with an overloaded schedule of end of the school years activities and commitments, but I pray for those people like I prayed for myself this morning, Lord help me to just focus on today. Thank you for my daily bread. Tomorrow is not promised, but today is here. Help me to live this life today to glorify your name. In Jesus name Amen.