Growing a Garden of Gratitude

One of the heart-matters I have purposed to develop within myself is gratitude. There is a scripture that says, "Give thanks in all things." I have found there are layers to gratitude. Every so often events transpire, in this case a very simple thing, to remind me there are reasons and seasons beyond my understanding. A couple of years ago two of our adult children dug up a small plot for a vegetable garden. Considering the amount of yard care we already have, I was not entirely thankful for this project. I was thankful for their passion and teamwork. I was thankful for the vegetables. What I did not anticipate was the joy and beauty the project would leave behind after they moved away - which I knew they would do - and they did. Leaving me - in my initial thinking - with another area of yard to care for. What I did not anticipate was how thankful I would feel remembering the two of them working side by side when I look out my window. I did not anticipate the joy it would bring me to continue what they began. And I did not anticipate that the garden would in many ways regrow itself: The kale plants are now on their third year and the lettuce, among other things, reseeded itself. And my gratitude has grown with them all.

They say life is often understood looking backwards. I have found that to be true, not only in understanding, but sometimes in gratitude as well.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...