Kingdom Likeness

Dictionary.com gives the following definitions for the word “garden” as:/ˈgɑrdn/

1. a plot of ground, usually near a house, where flowers, shrubs, vegetables, fruits, or herbs are cultivated.

2. a piece of ground or other space, commonly with ornamental plants, trees, etc., used as a park or other public recreation area: a public garden.

3. a fertile and delightful spot or region.

I find that these definitions to be very true. I also find that “garden” is a wonderful description of what our Lord Jesus proclaimed when he came to Earth: The kingdom of God/The Kingdom of Heaven had arrived right here on Earth.

When Husband told me he was going to begin growing a garden, I was mildly surprised, since he’d never shown any interest in gardening before.

Well like everything else he does, he began researching and asking questions.

One of the businesses he looked to was Home Depot. There, he got the irrigation supplies that he would need for his watering system for the soil.

The next business he went to was the Mesquite Valley Growers. There, he got advice on how to prepare his soil, what types of plants to grow (especially since he was going to be growing in this nice Tucson desert). He even got advice concerning should he begin growing with seeds or seedlings.

Husband has always been inventive so it did not take him long to design his watering system and get it installed and to get the land prepared.

I still remember the day he brought home all these small containers filled with seedlings of tomatoes, squash, lettuce, peppers, and even artichoke.

He was so excited. He brought so many seedlings; he had enough to plant in the area he had prepared for his garden, and to give away to our neighbors.

From that day forth Husband was very faithful in tending to his garden, making sure the plants had plenty of water, had the right amount of sunlight, and even made sure the soil had the right amount of nutrients.

His seedlings began growing and growing and growing until we could see lettuce leaves, tomatoes, squash, and even the buds on the pepper plants.

The first thing I came to understand is like in God’s Kingdom, it did not take much and the seedlings were small but when they began growing, the fruit and the amount of fruit from those plants became quite large, so much so that there was more than enough to share with one another.

We had so much lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and squash, we had to share!!!

Like God’s Kingdom, we found hidden “treasures” within the garden. We learned and were amazed about the intricacies of squash pollination, and which plants are compatible to grow next to each other, and how God provides for the other creatures -the birds, lizards, and every crawling thing partaking from the garden, and there was still enough for us to eat and share with others.

Also like God’s Kingdom, Husband found- to save one plant, that was doing well, he had to take care in not discarding a plant that was not doing so well, which was next to the good plant, to quickly and in doing so even the plant that was not so well developed and produced. But as husband knew sometimes there will be a need to sacrifice for the good of the many.

Finally Husband’s garden, like God’s Kingdom, is a wonderful gift of giving. We have bonded more closely with our neighbors and have even extended the scope of who we call “neighbors”. The garden has given and continues to give us many delightful hours of “sharing” the food, the fellowship, but mostly the Knowledge of God and His Kingdom.

Be blessed in your garden!