Tag: LessonsFromMyGarden

Reaping What We Sow

Posted on by mrsmonarch

It was the summer of 2019. 

Invitations for my summer 💐 garden party 🎉 had gone out weeks before. Friends were coming from far and wide to hang out, sample yummy food 🥪, sip lemonade 🍋 and share in light-hearted laughter and quality fellowship. It was an annual tradition; something we all looked forward to.

The problem was– The house was on the market and, unbeknown to the invited guests, we had just received a solid contract. The buyer had asked for immediate possession, so we had already packed most everything we owned.

I wasn’t even going to have furniture for anyone to sit on! I looked around my empty living room and let out a big sigh. Who invites people to their home when they don’t even have chairs for them to sit in?! The prospect of being thought of as a bad hostess was admittedly uncomfortable, but I decided to open the doors of our home anyway. After all, it was about the fellowship, not the stuff, right??!  It was time to loosen up & practice what I’d preached.

And they came. From miles and miles and miles away, they came. Each brought the customary “entrance fee”— plant babies from her garden to share with the other guests as parting gifts. Every lady brought something to contribute to the plant exchange and each left with a sprig of something different. We were eagerly sharing what we had with one another. The plants we exchanged would grow in our own little gardens and be a faithful reminder of the sweet times of fellowship we had all shared together. We referred to the plants we shared as founding members of our “Friendship Gardens”. We all had a delightful time that afternoon!

Most of the guests had already taken their party favors and said their goodbyes, but one lady offered to stay a bit and help me clean up. As we were chatting, she asked me if it was going to be hard to leave the garden and all of my beautiful flowers after pouring so much time and energy into them.

I paused and allowed a sigh to escape my lips. “Yes… Leaving is always hard,” I said. “The thing I will miss the most are my climbing roses 🌹 They are an antique and very prolific variety that smell sweeter than anything I’ve ever smelled. Yes, I will miss them terribly”.

And that’s when she asked if she could dig up a few shoots from the base of the bigger bushes. I gave her my blessing and she tenderly dug up a few of the babies, wrapped them in a wet paper towel, hugged me and wished me well on my new adventure. It was a bittersweet moment. I was glad she would be blessed by them, but it was admittedly hard to see them go.

Fast forward 6 long years. Another house, in another state, is once again on the market. I have found myself wandering through another beautiful flower garden that will eventually be left behind for someone else to enjoy. I’m usually a very upbeat person, but I must admit … Today– I was tired. Physically tired. Emotionally tired. Spiritually tired. Tired of moving. Tired of investing … Tired of pulling up roots and most of all, tired of losing the things I’ve invested so much of my heart in.

And then it happened. My phone buzzed. It was a text from that precious friend. Totally out of the blue, she had chosen today to send me pictures of the tiny little rose sprigs she’d dug out of my garden so many years ago. They are HUGE now and filled with hundreds upon hundreds of the most incredibly gorgeous blooms!!

It’s been a long time since that day when she asked to dig them up. The twinge of sadness has long since lifted. I smiled as I read her text and told myself how happy I was that she had asked to take them. She was a worthy recipient, for sure.

But then, I got to the last couple of sentences in her message. A smile crossed my face. She wasn’t texting to brag on her green thumb. She wanted me to know that those babies have had babies… And she’s dug up a couple for me, so that I will have something to plant in my new garden after this next move is behind me. She told me that had always been her plan—she was just waiting for them to grow and for me to get settled!

I was flabbergasted!! Oh how it lightened my heart! The roses? Well I guess in time, they could have been replaced. But roses dug up by a thoughtful friend who fostered them and showered them with love for years? WOW! Talk about ‘holding space’ for a friend! I can’t fathom a more meaningful gift.

Suddenly, something hit me. We can’t out give God. What we give away, finds its way back to us– oftentimes with interest. He knows what’s important to us. He knows our needs, our desires, our wildest hopes and dreams. Nothing is too big— or too small— to go unnoticed. We truly do reap what we sow. Today, I’m grateful I’ve sown both friendship and roses!

Until Next Time,

A Garden Analogy About Trauma

Posted on by mrsmonarch

I separated & transplanted this Oregano plant just before our first frost. She was given a front row seat at my coffee station, close to the window, where she could soak up the morning sun. With the night time temperatures plummeting quickly, I just knew she’d be grateful.

Instead? She promptly began to shrivel and die! 😱

Some gardeners might have given up on her, but I was patient. I know change is hard! I understand that being uprooted & forced to endure situations beyond our control can stress us to the breaking point. I knew it wouldn’t be an easy transition but thankfully, I have lived long enough to trust that time and love are mighty healers.

The days marched forward. The chilly November nights gave way to brutally killing frosts. Every morning, I would pull back the curtain and welcome the morning sun on her behalf. Once each week, I faithfully watered her, and tenderly swept up the vast amount of crispy, dead leaves she kept dropping. She was stubborn and made sure I was aware of her resentment of the change.

Honestly, there were days when I wasn’t sure she would make it. Perhaps I really had pushed her beyond her limitations? It was possible. I had dug deep in the garden the day I took her. I severed long roots and tore apart alliances she had made with the plants surrounding her. Some of the plants I do this to don’t survive being transplanted. The possibility didn’t change my resolve. After all, leaving her in the garden would have guaranteed her demise. At least this way, she would have a fighting chance!

The months have slowly passed. Her struggle has been obvious, even though she’s been silent. It is now mid January. From my office window, our yard looks like a barren wasteland. Her old garden friends are entombed under 8″ of snow and ice. Had I left her in her comfortable old home, she would be dead by now, a victim of the harshness of these frigid Missouri winters.

Ah, but I am happy to report that this morning, when I went to check on her, I found that she’s showing signs of new growth. She’s clearly “accepted” the changes life has pushed upon her & has finally determined to make the most of her new circumstances. New leaves are sprouting. There are even a couple of tender new shoots popping up in the clay pot. It’s going to take awhile for her to make a full recovery–yes, that’s true. But eventually, she’s going to get there!

Just so you know– this can work with people too. Yes– even you!

How do we get from “here” to “there” ? It’s a process, my friend. First? Be gentle as you make your transitions. Realize that changes can be painful and recovery might come slower than you were hoping. Next? Nurture yourself with regularity. You can’t expect to ignore your needs and do any amount of thriving! Allow yourself time to soak up the sun. Eat quality meals. Drink enough water. Get out and move around. Be less concerned about how things look from the outside and focus primarily on getting settled into this new “place” where life has planted you. Lastly, be wise and recognize that there will probably be a season of rest, where it looks like nothing is happening. We all know that looks can be deceiving. Trust the process! Often our biggest growth comes from “quiet” seasons.

It takes both courage and faith to do these things. But Dear One, time & love are mighty healers! Once again, our amazing Creator has given us a gardening analogy that provides a valuable life lesson. It is possible to experience trauma and thrive! I hope this serves a encouragement.

 

Until Next Time,

A New Season

Posted on by mrsmonarch

Dear friend,

Fall is upon us.  This morning, as I sit from my office spot, coffee in hand, and look out over the garden, I am in awe of the beauty of the world around me. Green, gold, and crimson leaves flutter through the air and litter the yard. A family of squirrels has been busy gathering nuts while our dog Pearl goes crazy from their intrusion. My beloved hummingbird friends are visiting the feeders for the final time as they begin their journey south. One of them hovered at the window for a few seconds, as if thanking me for my generosity before bidding me farewell. Yes, I have been enjoying my days; relishing in the excitement of the changes that are coming!

Then it hit me. There were so many years in my life when I could not enjoy Fall. Though the changing colors were stunning— I was simply too wrapped up in the dread of winter to enjoy what Fall had to offer. I had to force myself to take a deep breath and then, slowly release it. Ah! That was the old me; the way I used to think— and that me is gone! Like the baby caterpillar I have talked so much about, I am changing; growing; becoming…

What a relief there is to be able to see a new season of life arrive and be joyous about it instead of fearful! Goodness, it’s taken me a lifetime to get here! Oh my Friend, I want to share the feeling; I long for others to experience it, too— but the words elude me.

The seasons aren’t the only things that are changing! This year, instead of watching it all unfold as a spectator, I am choosing to join in and make a number of changes myself! My beloved BuiltToBeAButterfly site will be among the many things in my life to receive an update. Old material is being removed; new posts, sharing fresh perspectives, will eventually be added to replace them. It is time to also consider bringing BuiltToBeAButterfly  back to social media, too, I guess— though I’ve been avoiding that as long as I can.  🙂  Keep your eyes posted!

So many of you have emailed me with kind remarks and sweet notes this past year or two. I can’t tell you how much your words have strengthened me! Courage in the face of tremendous change is not my strong suit! But your snippets of encouragement have kept me motivated to finish the good work God put me here to do. I am really excited to see what He has planned for this new—and very different—season of life.

And next—drum roll please— I am thrilled to announce that my two most recent projects—the book Lessons From My Garden, and a 30-day coordinating study guide which parallels the book, are currently in the final stages of development. I know—I told y’all that I was working on this set several years back. But, life happened and time sort of slipped away from me. All that procrastinating is behind now, though! They should both be available on Amazon in the next four to six weeks! Woo-Hoo! 

Of course, life is more fun when we can share it with friends! Please make sure you share this site, and like and follow us once we return to social media. Meanwhile, I will post updates here! Keep me in your prayers! There is still a lot of hard work to be done before I can inch across the finish line!

Until Next Time!

 

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