By Heather Walton, Guest Blogger
I ventured out to the garden today. It was such a bleak day, and I was beginning to think it was not the smartest move on my part, for the brisk breeze whisked me along the path like a winter’s castoff. Trembling bushes leaned away from the frosty blast, and shivering leaves littered my way to the patch as I pulled the collar up on my old ratty sweater.
Brrr! Forgotten vines choked my muddy steps as I slogged along, and too late I spied the rake. It leapt up at me as I stamped down hard on the flagstone and nearly sent my cricketty self back into the rusty gate I had just wrestled open!
Who was I kidding? Today was not the day for frolics in the garden. I gazed dismally at the untidy edges of my plot. In the rearview mirror of my mind, I could see last summer’s perfectly planted rows of merrily nodding beans, and greens, taters, and tomatoes; but winter had tromped on fall, and now my garden resembled my bent and brittle self, with tomato cages askew and weeds that had weathered the winter just fine. They were budding cheerily between haphazard onion sets and timid garlic sprouts.
Well… what to do, where to start? Like every task that seems too big for me to face, I sank to my knees in the mud to get a different perspective. And that’s when I saw her. A tiny bobbing spot of yellow among the brown decaying foliage. It was a dandelion! She was tucked into the miry clay, bravely shining forth with joyous abandon!
And suddenly being on my knees made perfect sense. This little spring bloom was summer’s promise. What a gift! I forgot to be miffed at the weather and the wild wind. Leaning up to her brave, fuzzy head, I smiled back at this bobbing nodding bloom of wonder.
I’m not sure how much I’ll plant this year, but not to worry! I’ll certainly have all the dandelion leaves I need for my salads. Sometimes, all it takes is a different view to see what a blessing has been there all the time.
About the Author:
Heather is a people person, and as a lay leader in local city and county churches, she strives to see each person as unique facets of the Creator’s love and grace. She finds it a delight and a challenge to serve such a diverse bunch of folks.
As a former cook and home daycare worker, Heather brings a wealth of lived experience to share. She is Grandma to 7 grandkids, 2 sons, and has been married 47 years to Bob. Heather has arthritis and a back injury, which has gifted her with an understanding of the shadows we all dance with during our lives at some point.
Sometimes life is simply hard, but we can choose to be better or bitter. Being in chronic pain has given Heather an empathic view of the difficult journeys that many are on. And so, as a writer and musician, her mission is to uplift, encourage, and share kindness in as many ways she can. Just for the joy of it!