My Garden Gate....Beauty from Ashes

Years ago, a friend told me to pray,  not for money or specific things,  but for the essence of what I wanted.    I thought to myself, "Wouldn't that be selfish?"  She said God wants us to ask for what we would like....  

 At the time, I had just divorced.  It had been a very difficult time for me, my heart was broken.  I was working full time, juggling a career and was busy taking care of a 4 year old boy.  
I had always prayed for my son, and I prayed for our needs…but never "wants".    Besides, I couldn't afford a beautiful garden.  I was short on money and needed a new roof on our house.   

Like most mothers, I was neglecting myself , my soul and the things I needed or wanted.  
So, I thought about what my friend had said.....what was it I really "wanted"?     A husband?, No I kind of messed that up, I wanted to focus on my son....a new roof?, no that was a need and it was too specific.  

I decided to pray for a beautiful garden.  I wanted something where I could go alone and pray, the garden that was nourishing to my soul.   I felt close to God in a beautiful garden.   Plants made me happy, there is something about tending a garden that makes your soul feel joyful and healthy.   It seemed selfish to pray for this, but it was on my heart and was a real desire.  
So, I prayed.  

The next day, a wind storm knocked down my fence.  The storm caused a huge tree to fall on my house and garden and put a hole in the roof.  The tree, limbs and damage crushed most of my plants.  My garden was a mess, and now the roof of my house, too. 

I was so discouraged.  I thought... "God, this wasn't what I had in mind".   

I cleaned up the broken branches.  The good news was that insurance covered a new roof.   I gave thanks to God and thought,  how creative is God.  

Then thoughts turned to my mess of a garden.  I was lamenting about the garden problem to a man I had just started to date.    He said, "I can help you rebuild your fence".  He told me to design the fence of my dreams and he would build it, he was very creative.

Thoughts turned to the large picture window in the living room.  It opened to a huge dark wooden fence and made the whole room seem darker.  I had hoped to see into the garden from the living room.    He suggested an open fence.   

I love design. Doug and I designed a little arts and crafts kind of fence, a see-through though fence, with lots of copper details.  …we designed it so I could look out the window and instead of seeing a big flat wooden fence, you could see into the garden. 

(the  destroyed garden ) 

Doug suggested we find an open gate.  I called around to iron companies.  It cost a small fortune to have a gate made like I envisioned.  Doug suggested we go to Architectural Salvage.  We found a gorgeous iron gate with beautiful scrollwork.  It was old and had a beautiful green patina.  It was on sale because no one wanted an oversized gate, it fit the design perfectly because Doug built the fence around the gate entrance. We found old hardware.  I called around and found companies that did this type of thing, but they wanted hundreds of dollars to solder the gate together.  Finally, I found a man that was soldering parts for Autos.  We took the gate to him.   He said the gate inspired him so much it renewed his spirit.   He said it was such a beautiful piece of work he would solder it for free.  (Doug tipped him ; ) 

The gate really was breathtaking.   

Back at home, friends had heard about what had happened to all my smashed plants.  They brought divisions from their gardens, bulbs and clippings.  

It was fall, my damaged garden was pruned to the ground. I decided I would put the new plants on the ground to survive the winter, and then replant in the spring when I could see what it what.  Plants were put here and there, depending upon where there was a hole.

I cleaned up the branches, and cut back all the broken plants.   Trees were trimmed so they wouldn't become diseased.  The broken trees looked barren and strange.

Winter came.  Through the garden gate,  I enjoyed looking at the snow covered garden through my window.  The trees began to have beautiful shapes, dark against the pure white snow. 

It was one beautiful spring morning as I sipped coffee and gazed out the window, I saw a beautiful light streaming into the garden.    

I couldn't believe my eyes.  The garden trees were full and blooming.    

Spring growth!  As I walked into the garden I noted how shockingly gorgeous, full and breathtaking.    I breathed a prayer of gratitude.  "God, this garden is breathtaking!"

Light was streaming in, the trees had been pruned and had taken on beautiful shape, letting in more light. Bulbs were blooming in an amazing array of color.

God had pruned my garden and caused it to thrive! 

The plants needed more light.  The colors and textures were truly breathtaking.  Soft grey greens contrasted with the dark greens, contrasting with bright yellow greens.    I could never have planned this garden so perfectly.   The pruned trees let in more light, the garden plants and flowers were thriving.

I couldn't believe my eyes.  Not only did I receive a beautiful garden, but this whole thing reminded me God is working, pruning us, taking away the bad, allowing the good to grow, even when we don't see or realize what is happening.  God is there, working for our best good.  We just have to trust.  

And the great guy that built my fence?  Yep, that is the guy I married.    

Through this garden gate I not only received a beautiful garden, but God's blessings.  

...and a wonderful, creative giving husband.

This is a reminder.  In the midst of adversity, God is working.   You may have just had your fence knocked over, your garden crushed, your limbs pruned….but just wait and see what God has in store for you.   

Becky Kelly 

I married Doug in 2002 and moved to a new home....I wonder? 

Yes, I I will pray for a beautiful garden.    

...and if I had prayed for something specific? Like a lilac or a rose bush?  Would I have limited what could have been?     

I've learned to pray for the essence of joy.  Good friends, family love, good health, beauty surrounding, God's creativity is limitless.