This is one of my favorite lines in all of literature. Of course many of you know this comes from Frances Hodgson Burnett's, "The Secret Garden".  Sadly, I didn't read this classic until I was an adult and I am now reading it to the children. They love it and we discuss what we've read after every chapter. Even my four-year-old son has been totally captivated by poor, neglected Mary's story. When we got to the part where Mary finds the hidden door to the forbidden garden and lets herself in, he began to jump up and down exclaiming, "She's in the garden! She's in the garden!" 

I think I love this story so much because of the way Mary learns to love others through nurturing "her garden".  I see so much in a garden and can't help but use the analogy of raising a garden with raising children. I mean think about the work that goes into breaking up the soil and amending it so that it produces healthy blooms, vegetables, or fruit. With children it also takes much effort, time, patience, and much prayer to see good fruit. We then must nurture the garden by keeping the weeds out and make sure the garden is well watered. With our children, we must be diligent in training them, loving them, but not over-indulging. It takes such a balance and I am constantly trying to find that balance.

So as we read about Mary and her garden, I am thinking upon my own little garden and where I need to be paying a bit more attention, providing more love or a bit more pruning.  Another line from this story that I love is,  "In the garden", and that is where I am. I am in my garden, tending my blooms, looking ever so earnestly to the Master Gardener for wisdom and strength to keep my garden nurtured and healthy.   Blessings!  Julie