Marigolds for All

Gardening can bring peace and joy. Gardening can also bring hard work, sweat, and frustration. When seeds are planted and the tiny sprouts emerge from the soil, a sense of accomplishment can make me smile. When I plant seeds and nothing appears, that is when the frustration fills my mind.

My parents shared their love of gardening with me when I was a young girl. From hiding seeds under the earth to filling small pots with dirt and plants, working in the soil was something we enjoyed. That special time together also brought us into a closer relationship.
Conversations about daily life, concerns, and joys would often be shared while our hands became dirty and sweat often dropped off our brows. Whether in the heat of the day or the cool of the evening, there was always something to do in the garden.

Flowers covered areas on the front and sides of our home. Vegetables grew in a garden behind and beside the garage. If Daddy could find a good spot to plant, he would have the tools ready and begin digging. Tomato plants, squash, cucumbers, peas, radishes, onions, potatoes and more were regular sights in the garden.
Yellow and orange marigolds, red and white impatiens, pink vinca, and more adorned the yard. There were also bushes and trees to observe. A crabapple tree, blue hydrangeas, red roses, crepe myrtles, and other plants held their place in our family garden of flowers and vegetables.

Today, I find comfort and peace while tending to the plants and vegetables in the garden. This morning, as I was picking old stems and blooms off of flowers so new growth would emerge, I paused and listened. God gave me two beautiful butterflies to watch. God gave the sound of hummingbird wings moving at a rapid pace as the little birds visited the feeder. I heard the call of a dove, the croak of a frog, and the buzz of bumblebees. I thanked God for His blessings.

One particular plant is known for doubling in size each year. The marigold. Those beautiful yellow and gold marigolds will pop through the soil at any moment. Last year, one of our neighbors had collected marigold seeds from her plants. She asked if we would like to have some seeds. “Yes, I would definitely like some. Thank you.”
The sweet lady handed me a bag. I smiled and couldn’t wait to plant them in the ground.

When our young grandson arrived the next day, we went to the flower bed. I am sharing the love of gardening with him and will share with his baby sister, too. We prepared the soil, took the harvested seeds from the bag, and planted. Grandson poked a hole in the dirt with his finger. He placed more seeds than needed into the hole and that was fine. Next, he filled his plastic water pitcher and watered the ground. Then, we waited.
The wonderful thing about marigolds is that they grow quickly. Every time our grandson arrived to visit, he raced to the flower bed to check his marigolds. “Mimi, they’re growing!” His excitement was precious! We’ve watched the plants continue to grow and now, we are harvesting seeds to share with friends and family.

Harvesting and sharing is one way to shine the light of Christ. We can harvest the seeds and offer them to others who might enjoy gardening. We can show the love of Christ through our words and actions.
What can you harvest today? Will you share the seeds of love with others?

Thank You Father for giving marigolds for all to enjoy.

Blessings,
Melissa Henderson