I have written about gardens and tending to my garden often during my time writing this blog. I love having a garden; having growing plants just outside the door; being able to eat fresh vegetables, even if only one or two grow enough to eat. 

Yesterday, I ate my breakfast outside on the deck to enjoy one of the few days left for me here in Vermont. Usually when I eat my breakfast, I have something to read. Yesterday, I decided to sit and enjoy my little garden and the sounds of the lake waves on the shore. I felt renewed when I finished my meal. 

You want to know what I was thinking about while sitting there? I was thinking about God and the miracle of growth. I am moved by the thoughtfulness of God to provide plants for beauty and sustenance. I feel so close to God when I sit or work in my garden.  

Now, I am talking about a very tiny plot of land that grows some perennials and a limited number of vegetables. I’m talking about one tomato plant, two cucumber vines, two zucchini plants, four green pepper plants and four Swiss chard plants.  

I wish that I could tell you that I had a bountiful crop, but the reality is 4 cucumbers, 4 green peppers, lots of Swiss chard, no zucchini and a remarkable tomato yield. Strange results. Those zucchini plants have lots of beautiful orange-yellow flowers but no fruit. They keep trying but they don’t get enough sun for good results. The green peppers are tiny and tasty; the chard is delicious and versatile. The challenges that they faced are mostly my fault. 

However, the tomato plant is truly a God-created miracle. I bought the plant with fruit already growing. I had at least 25 tomatoes from that plant. Then it began to brown and die. I cut the dying stems and gave it some fertilizer and lo and behold! The plant has come alive again and has many bright yellow flowers on new stems growing into tomatoes. Someone else will enjoy those delicious tomatoes. 

Being in the garden brings a concrete reality about God’s love for his creations-all his creations. The miracle of growth is so evident in the struggle of plants that get struck by a disease or an insect yet continue to attempt to grow. The results   convince me that life is good and worth a fight.  

The final fruits are proof that God loves you, the plants and animals and me unconditionally! 

Terri