My Garden Sanctuary

I have always loved flowers. As a young child I would spend summers with my grandmother who was an avid gardener. We spent many hours together working in her garden. Her love for gardening rubbed off on me and so began a life long hobby. It was not until 1996 that gardening became more than just a hobby for me. My husband had a fatal heart attack.

At the time I was eight weeks pregnant, had an eight month old, and a five year old. It was at this time that my garden became one of my closest friends. After the children were down for their nap I would escape to my garden. I found a safe place to let out my frustrations and anger about the death of my husband. My garden became a sanctuary for me. I would pour out my heart to the Lord, sometimes in protest and other times in praise. The beauty of my flowers assures me that God is still in control and has a plan for my life. Digging in the soil somehow made me feel better.

Research suggests that I may not be the only one who has benefited from gardening. One article I read stated the following: Gardening is so popular and so effective that it’s actually used as therapy in hundreds of hospitals, rehabilitation centers and schools. “We don’t just imagine that plants make us feel good,” confirms Mona Gold, a registered horticultural therapist. “Their presence can hasten physical healing and produce psychological changes similar to those brought about by meditation.” Diane Relf, PhD., the author of The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-Being and Social Development adds, “Pruning, turning soil and plucking weeds are good positive ways to get rid of frustration.” There is an ever-increasing body of evidence that points to gardening as a facilitator of healing in people’s lives. The benefits of gardening to my life have been many.

I believe that my physical and emotional health have been improved as a direct result of the time I have spent in my garden. There are parallels between the life of flowers and that of people. Conditions in life may be difficult. The “ rain” may beat us down at times. Things can” heat up” and make us feel as if we are wilting. Sometimes we long for a “cool drink of water” when we are weary. Eventually the “Son” comes out and we begin to blossom. Maybe that’s why gardening is so helpful to so many people. Somehow we feel as if flowers can relate to our lives. Just like us they go through cycles of birth, growth, and death. And like us the seed, which is in the flower, produces the next generation of plants. Life comes forth from death and gives us hope.