“The LORD guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones. You shall be like a watered garden. And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” -Isaiah 58:11
What can be better than a well watered garden?
For most gardens, water is essential to life. Not just floral life, but all life. Without good, healthy water, gardens suffer. In many regions, water restrictions have become the norm. Watching gardens dry up before your eyes is brutal. Even the soul of the gardener feels the drought.
For many years, I enjoyed the luxury of a well. Rumor has it, our old well was one of the few water sources for our town during the severe drought in the 1950’s. The well ran deep, the gardens flourished and my soul was continually satisfied. In 2018, after a catastrophic flood, our family relocated to higher ground. The gardens were one of the only things to survive the flood. I poured myself into salvaging heirloom bulbs.
The new gardens at the studio seem to limp along. Nothing was flourishing. The soil was poor, the water was harsh and my soul became increasingly dissatisfied. I missed my well watered garden. Although flowers still bloomed, there was a difference I couldn’t put my finger on. Then the drought came, and the roses died. Everything seemed to die overnight. I couldn’t figure it out, so I did a little experiment. I dug up a distressed, heat-loving native and watered it with some rain water I had collected. The very next day, I had new growth. Unbelievable. I tried everything in my power to provide small amounts of rain water for my gardens, but it simply wasn’t enough. Hauling small buckets of dechlorinated water was time consuming, and the gardens still struggled. The drought took its toll.
Fast forward a few years….
”Keenan, you really need a well.”
Fast forward a few more months….”Keenan, I’m getting you a well.”
The Lord definitely moves in mysterious ways. My friend’s heart became obedient to a random prompting from the Lord. Through the Lord’s sheer graciousness, I now have a “spring of water, whose waters never fail.”
Through the Lord’s guidance, the gardens can now be a place of abundance in the Agape Haus Community Garden. Children can enjoy cut flowers and peaceful walks through the studio grounds. I get to watch, before my eyes, God’s restoration of a barren land.
Happy Gardening, my friends!
May the Lord satisfy your soul in times of drought. May He strengthen your bones. May you be like a watered garden. Like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Love, Keenan at Heirloombulbgirl
Heirloombulbgirl 