How Does Your Garden Grow?

I'm proud of my small garden plot behind the garage.  My hubby and I savor the sampling of fresh vegetables it modestly provides.  Next to the king size quilt of colorful perennials and produce my friend Julie oversees, my patch is a baby blanket. How fun to stroll through the lushness of Julie's garden and hear her tell stories and history of each variety as though talking about her kids.

This week seemed God's time to reveal how the fruit of His Spirit was developing in my spiritual garden.
Come along and hear what I found out.

Peace weathered some rainy days of melancholy.  The challenge to keep my thoughts focused on the Gardener in spite of feeling depressed, hopefully has quickened the ripening process.

Joy swung brightly from the Friendship branch as I shared a very special day with two close girlfriends. We threw schedules aside, visited our favorite places to eat, walked a quiet nature trail, did some low key resale shopping and talked to our heaart's content.

Patience's fruit, still green and underdeveloped, seems to take a long time to mature.  The Gardener even needed to prune back some new growth this week.  I suspect developing greater intimacy with my husband involves an intricate growing process that can't be rushed.

I was delighted to have Kindness harvested by my father-in-law as I stood by his hospital bed two days ago.  He had suffered a small heart attack.

Patron's in the library where I work were able to pick a peck of Goodness as I catered to their needs.  This fruit is plentiful when I am regularly being watered by the Gardener's word.

Self-control felt nice and plump as I walked my exercise route.  Some new buds are developing on this plant, and I hope to cultivate a good crop as I set some goals for better time management and sorting of priorities.

The week ended with a grandkid's sleep over at my house last night.  You should have seen all the Love fruit! There were bushel baskets full, and Love's sweetness was juicy and sticky.   We enjoyed it's delicious messiness.

The Master Gardener continues His good work in me.  I see Faith coming along nicely as I yield to His expert care. I catch a glimpse of Meekness when the Master pulls back the leaves it hides under. I'm thankful I can trust the Gardener for the needed days of rain and Son.

How is your garden doing?