It’s a quiet morning. There is calm in the air. I woke early this morning. My routine every day is to walk straight out to our garden to feed my feathered and furry friends while coffee brews inside.
I walked out onto the back porch, then into the world of our garden. A little squirrel sat there eagerly awaiting my morning task. I have been watching him over the last few days. He has wounds from a recent tussle with another squirrel or maybe even a cat. We all have wounds, don’t we?
At first, I didn’t see him as I walked through the grass with my gift of seed. Then our eyes met, I smiled, and we just looked at each other for a few moments. I swear he smiled too, offering me a quiet thank you for my kindness. His wounds seemed to be healing today.
It must be nice to be an animal in some ways. Animals just live in the moment. Some of our wounds are different. They take forgiveness. We need to forgive for some wounds to heal. Otherwise they just fester and get worse.
I think this little guy finds healing in our garden. He comes every day and we share time together. Like my little wounded friend, I spend special moments with my Gardener. Although I suppose God truly is “our” Gardener. This little guy is in his special place looking at me as I sit here enjoying the beauty of the garden. I look at him and can’t help but think out loud, “Hey buddy, you’re welcome to join me anytime. There’s healing in this place.”
I slid inside and seized my coffee as my little friend indulged in the gift I left him, then slid back out quietly and returned to my garden table to pray. I really enjoy my talks with God in the mornings. Especially now that I have this place that comes alive with activity surrounding me, this peaceful place that fills me with the feeling of contemplation.
As I finished my conversation with my gardener, one among many we will have today, I lifted my head. A bright red cardinal joined me, and then a light-gray morning dove flew in and took his perch on one of our special places. It was almost as if they joined in with me and my wounded squirrel friend. The cardinal sang a song as the dove walked about and then more flew in and joined the chorus. There we all were, just having a grand old time. To me it is a time of worship. Just me, Jesus, and my garden friends. I find it interesting that Jesus is the great healer, and he is in the garden with us if we invite him. I love spending time with Jesus in the garden of my life.
So here we sit, me and my little wounded friend, a chorus of birds singing, their songs filling the air. He looks at me as he sits there in his special place and I can’t help but think out loud, “Hey buddy, you are in the right place. God is with us. There’s healing in this place.” Then my little furry friend scampers to the top of the fence, turns back around, and I swear he smiled. Can squirrel’s smile? I don’t know, but we have a lot to be thankful for, me and my wounded friend. We rejoice in God’s provision and are thankful for his care.
We all have wounds, don’t we? May you find healing in the garden of your life. Yes, there is healing in the Garden.
“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” ~~ Psalm 34:1
“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” ~ Jeremiah 17:14
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD” ~ Jeremiah 30:17
