Friday 4 March 2011

A story

This one is for msfitzia, and also for me.


The Garden

Once there was a gardener who wanted to make a beautiful garden. She planted a tree and cared for it and the gardener’s family would watch it grow. As the tree grew, the neighbours came over to admire it. But it was soon clear that the tree was unwell.

The neighbours called on the name of The Great Gardner, claiming health and long life for the tree. The gardener also asked in her heart that the tree live. But the tree died anyway.

“Plant another there” called one neighbor.
“It’s for the best” said another.

But the gardener did not want another tree there. She left it standing, and built a small path around the base with a seat for her family to sit on. At Christmas, they put lights and an angel on it.

The gardener found a new patch of soil and planted another tree, but this one did not grow. She marked the spot where it had been planted with a large rock.

She tried again in a different spot, asking that this one may live. But it died as well. This time she built a pond where it had been.

“A crying shame” said the neighbours when they came round to visit. But they left quickly, feeling scared by the sight of the garden where trees died. “I know a tree will grow soon” they offered as they hurried out the door. And perhaps they believed the words they were saying.

The gardener continued to plant more trees. Each time, she tried something new, some extra food, a little more water, a sunnier spot. Each time, she pleaded that this one may live but each tree she planted died soon after. She watered the ground with her tears, and continued to mark the places where these little trees had been - a gravel courtyard, a box for birds to nest in, a dish for animals to drink from.

The neighbours did not come around much anymore. They had gardens of their own. Her heart ached when she saw their tall strong trees growing in the distance and she wondered why hers died.

Sometimes the neighbours discussed the garden with no trees. There was some disagreement over the gardener. “Surely she knows by now that she is just not a gardener! She should find something else to do” said one.
“She just needs to have more faith” the other disagreed, “then her trees would grow strong like ours”

But what the neighbours did not see was how precious this garden was to the gardener. They couldn’t understand why she spent so much time tending it. In the evenings, she would sit on the seat with her family, and feel sadness and longing, but she also felt peaceful there too.

One evening The Great Gardener went for a walk. He admired all the strong tall trees in the yards of the neighbours, and commented on their grace and health. But he stopped in front of our gardener’s place. He saw a little silver tree with no leaves. A path skirted around its base and the seat had also turned silver from the weather. A bird was darting in and out of the bird box and another was taking a bath in the dish. The gravel was raked into a pattern and there was a lizard sunning itself on the rock. Two water lilies were in bloom in the pond.

The Great Gardener smiled. “Beautiful” he said. And His heart felt warm because he knew this gardener shared his love.

30 comments:

Valerie said...

Thanks so much- I followed you here from msfitzita's blog and I'm glad I did. Your story warmed my heart too.

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Very rarely does a post make my heart stop.

But this one did.

Lollipop Goldstein said...

That was incredible, B.

loribeth said...

THANK YOU. : )

Michele said...

I dont even have words... This is so beautiful.

You are in my heart, and I think of you so often...

heidi said...

Amazing.

Valery said...

More tears for the bird bath...

Rebecca said...

Here from the round-up. This was absolutely incredible. Thank you.

Rachael said...

So, so beautiful. Thank you.

VA Blondie said...

Also here from the roundup. Beautiful story. Thank you.

AnotherDreamer said...

Thank you for sharing this, it is such a beautiful story.

Catherine said...

Beautiful, I am in tears.

areyoukiddingme said...

That was beautiful and heart-wrenching.

Anonymous said...

So beautiful and haunting. This is the best blog post I've read in months. Thank you.

Flmgodog said...

Here from the round-up. Uh, totally hit a spot and made me ball. Beautiful writing.

Grace said...

Lovely.

Pamela T. said...

Powerful and poignant...

rebecca said...

Here from the round up. So beautiful and powerful, thank you for sharing.

msfitzita said...

Love this. Love it more than I can say. Thank you so, so much, and a million ((((HUGS)))) across the ether.

Kami said...

I just completed a card to a friend of a friend who lost her baby after years of infertility. I wished for something better to say then my feeble words of "I am sorry." I am going to print this and send it along.

Thank you, B. I think of you often.

Melissa said...

Truly breath taking writing. As always. I've missed you and your writing and find myself often pondering how you are doing. Was so happy to see you pop-up on my feed reader. This was sad, poignant, memorable... Incredible. I'm glad to see you finding peace in your beautiful garden.

mj said...

You really are a great writer! I love reading your stuff! Keep posting.


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Michele said...

Thinking of you sweetie... I know the coming week will be tough. xoxoxo

Celia said...

This is beautiful.

Anonymous said...

wow. I really did get teary. what a beautiful and poignant story. thank you.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful....
Much MLG

Heather said...

I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. That was just beautiful. I am going to follow your blog. You really speak to me.

yipeng said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Stinky said...

Fab, just arrrived here from jjiraffe's linky, this story twanged, because it reminds me of a similar one I wrote (yours is better though, definitely!!) 3 years ago.
Loved the meaning behind the words even though I don't know your or msfitzia's stories (yet)

Unknown said...

This story also reminds me the one I have recently written. Such a lovely blog! Nothing cruel.Visit our company's website and order custom essay at a hefty discount!