He’s Making My Heart a Garden

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He’s Making My Heart a Garden

22 January 2010 View Comments

I am not as holy as I should be…

I confess. I am a sinner. I have failed in so many ways. I’m not even “living gracefully” as I should – since that is what this whole site is about. I have many struggles and though I have a goal of sainthood for myself and my whole family and I have much ground to gain… My weakness, my pride, my anger, my fear, my doubt, my laziness all get the best of me more often then my virtue overcomes. I’m sure there are people out there who would love to tell you more about my failings.

I write about “Living Gracefully”, not because I am but because it is what I desire. To live gracefully is to live in the presence of God’s grace at all times. Yet, it is a process. Since the fall, only Mary has ever lived completely “full of grace” on this earth, the rest of us have to get there, we have a long road in front of us to replace sin with grace. We have much to do in working out our salvation.

Enter the Master Gardener…

Though I have much ground to cover on this journey, though I have much sin and weakness to overcome I know that it is not I but the Master Gardener who will till the soil of my wounded soul. In prayer I can hear the words of the Gardener as he speaks the truth of my being. As he tills the soil of my soul, as he patiently works day after day to draw me closer into His grace, into the beauty I was created to be. He does not act with frustration every time there is a new weed, he does not grow angry as stones come to the surface creating shallow ground, he does not lament when the soil becomes dry.

Rather, this gardener patiently and lovingly offers life giving water (John 4:10), he gently pulls the weed and roots out the cause of that weed, he carefully carves out the stone and replaces it with fertile soil. He is tending to the plants in this garden as if it is his masterpiece, his archetype. He calls out my name in a way only he can. Only He can know my true name, my true self – because he saw it in the beginning, he saw it as he breathed life into my soul.(Jeremiah 1:5)

I only have to open the gate, to let him walk through and tend to His garden. I only need to allow him to give me this life giving water, I only have to allow him to pull up the weeds. It will take much time, but he is patient with me as only He can be, because only He has seen what he created me to be.

Let the Master Gardener Till the Soil of Your Soul

Living Gracefully, is not about making a statement of perfection, it is about a journey of the soul. It is about placing ourselves in the hands of the Master Gardener and day by day allowing him to till the soil of our soul.

I end with the lyrics from “Garden” by Matt Maher and Audrey Assad. Possibly one of the most beautiful songs portraying how God works in our hearts.

Garden – Matt Maher/Audrey Assad

In the cool of the day You come and meet me
All the blue fades away the stars are winking

Your love’s so strong I can’t recall
What was this thing they called the fall

And You walk with me
You never leave
You’re making my heart a garden

Oh why would I hide away from Your face
When the light of Your love illuminates

Your hand in mine a steady line
Drawn on my heart and deep in my mind

And You walk with me
You never leave
You’re making my heart a garden

All the broken are mending the mournful rejoicing
Seeing through tears of peace overflowing

And You walk with me
You never leave
You’re making my heart a garden

Yeah You walk with me
You never leave
You’re making our world a garden