Mom's Garden: A Parable About Change

On Saturday mornings, my mom likes to do gardening. She’s been taking care of our garden ever since we moved into our home.


Mom has a variety of plants and flowers, some of which have been around for a long time. Others are new, replacing ones that didn’t blossom and had to be thrown away. When an occasional storm passes, the rain and wind destroy some of the plants.  When the weather clears, she trims the wilted flowers and leaves. If needed, she prunes back the branches.


In our backyard, along the side of our house, is a flower bed filled with roses. During our kitchen remodel a few years ago, our contractor had to remove the roses to repair rotted wood flooring on the exterior of the house. She was disappointed. After the remodel was completed, she planted new roses. Within a few months, they were in full bloom, flourishing even more beautifully than before.


Mom’s garden continues to evolve. There’s always something to do. She’s either trimming leaves, fertilizing, or planting something new. It is hard work for her, but she still does it. Yes, some flowers don’t bloom, some leaves wither, and some plants die. But that’s all part of gardening. And the reward is experiencing growth in the beauty of nature.

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