Prayer Garden

Life Balance: a feat we try to achieve while searching to be the best that we can we, while simultaneously raising our children to do the same. This is the equilibrium in our inner life force whereby our heartbeat matches the divine force that exists all around us. When this life balance peaks, our sense of peace, joy, love and wisdom acts as one with our very soul.

"Four things for success: work and pray, think and believe"--Norman Vincent Peale

I came across an interesting column in Guideposts June magazine, The Inspired Home by Kelee Katillac. (http://www.guidepostsmag.com/personal-change/positive-people-archive/?i=2240). Kelee likes to take things around the house and look for new uses in any hand-me-down item. This month she had talked about her small garden she put in that she likes to sit and drink lemonade by. She used old paint sticks as stakes for her herbs and tomatoes and such, and decorated them with names of friends she is praying for. So instead of referring to how her tomatoes are doing, she calls them now by the friends names. "Last summer Roy--the Big Boy Tomato-had a real touch-and-go start, at the same time her friends Roy was struggling. She took pretty old plates from thrift shops, and used those as edges for the small garden.

I loved the idea, and decided to put in a small garden myself, in the corner of my yard. Me, another garden? Hard to imagine, since I mainly sponsor weeds for my plants each summer. Nope, I actually went to the flea market yesterday, and picked up quite a few plates at various stands. I already had some herbs to try planting, and added some more. Along the way I noticed a tiny little chair. I decided to paint this and put in near the garden, so the angels have a place to rest while they are praying along with me. I asked the twins what color I should paint the chair, and they told me "Gold and White of course Mom, for the angels."

Today I actually turned over the ground, even though my back is killing me today. I haven't thrown my back out in over 8 years, but here it is again. I decided if I was going to be in pain, there should be a reason for it, it should be big and I should go all the way. So I did. I am sure my chiropractor will love me when I go get adjusted.

I decided to call the garden the prayer garden. It seems its not only me that is having a hard time this year. Lots of illness and deaths among my friends parents. I guess it's just our age, but we all seem to need extra help. Every day someone else is calling with bad news, or maybe good news. Maybe we just have to focus on our loved ones going to their eternal reward and forget about our grief. Maybe we all just need to laugh along with them and picture the voyage as a happy one.

DH's Aunt passed away last week. A very quick spreading cancer took her from us. And as she spoke on her last days, going into hospice, she mentioned to her daughter that she saw her deceased siblings, and Mom and in laws. They all said, come on along, its fine over here. What a nice thought from someone that really wasn't keen on organized religion. To picture here at peace is the best thing.

As I build the prayer garden, I will be adding my own prayers for a new beginning, a new career, and maybe less weeds then usual. I am looking for the old fashioned aluminum rocking chairs to set by the garden and take a load off, and maybe some more flowers to add to the weed collections. With each plant, I will name them and prayer for my sick relatives, out of work friends, and disenfranchised middle-agers. As the plants bloom, I hope so will they, in God's love and peace.

And who knows, maybe the weeds will give me a break this year....NOT.