MY NEIGHBOR'S GARDEN

My neighbor has such a lovely garden.  A quite proper English garden with plants blooming year round, lovely benches upon which to sit and reflect, shady trees, and even a running water feature.  I spend a great deal of time gazing over the fence at my neighbor's garden.  Often I found my self daydreaming ~ if only I had my neighbor's garden, I would be so content.  My live would be complete and truly I would have everything I want--if only I had my neighbor's garden.

There is a garden at my home, but my garden is not as beautiful as my neighbor's.  I suppose it must need a little work, some cutting back, and planting anew.  There is a bench upon which to sit, but the vines have grown so thick it is quite a mess.  There is a garden in my back and perhaps it could be lovely too with a little work.  OH, if ONLY I had my neighbor's garden.

There is another neighbor, on the other side, but I really don't know much about them, except their garden is not so lovely.  There is a wheel chair ramp leading to the house, and no one ever seems to visit the couple who live in the house.  The lady often gazes out her window, but she never does anything about her barren garden.  It is quite a desolate sight, when I occasionally peer over the fence.  Why it makes me wonder how anyone could allow their garden to become such an eyesore.  Who would want to gaze upon this sight?

One day it occurred to me, perhaps my garden was not so bad after all.  With a little work, and thinning out of plants, my garden could also be lovely.  Perhaps not quite as lovely as my neighbor's garden, but a lovely sight after a long day working to get it back into shape.  The plants I thinned, I took to my neighbor  and planted in the barren garden.  She was so delighted and thankful that I took the time to lend her a hand.  Now she sits outside in her garden and seems to enjoy the birds singing and the flowers blooming.  Such a little thing to share the bounty from my own yard, and yet it brought joy and happiness to my dear neighbor.

When I finally quit peering over the fence at my neighbor's garden and began to work instead upon my on garden, I found a new peace and contentment with my own lovely garden.  From that sense of peace came a great gratitude which spilled over into an act of  kindness for my other neighbor.  We can all enjoy our lovely gardens~one exquisite, one sparse but green and blooming and then there is my garden--which is really quite lovely and more than enough. What a shame that would have been to have missed the beauty in my own back yard while peering over the fence.

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Philippians 4:12