When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3

My gardening juices are flowing this week. Seventy-degree daytime highs and nighttime lows above freezing make us all want to believe that spring is here for sure. Better take a step back—March and April can always bring some unwanted surprises in the form of frost, freeze, or snow. That means we shouldn’t jump the gun when planting tender annuals. I know—you want your tomatoes to ripen as early as possible, but you’d be better advised to start them inside in a sunny window or mini-greenhouse so that they’ll be strong enough to brave the outdoors a little later.

To satisfy your urge to play in the dirt, there are other things you can do to prepare for summer abundance. Many types of trees and bushes can be shaped up at this time of year, but not the early bloomers. They flower on old wood so leave them alone until after they provide their show. Your garden space or landscape beds will no doubt need a major clean-up for spring; leftover leaves that need to be removed, new mulch added where needed, and this is a good time to apply slow-release fertilizer and assess any changes you might want to make.

The proper time for planting in southwest Missouri would be after April fifteen or even early May for some things. There are a few cold weather exceptions that can be planted early, but you need to investigate before you dig.

In my beds, things are stirring. Crocus are showing off their purples, yellows, and white. The Lenten rose has hidden its very early blooms under dried leaves but they are venturing out. Daffodil buds are swelling and all God’s critters are searching for a mate. My annual battle with digging squirrels is underway. And I love it—well, maybe not so much the squirrels!

Ken and I were conversing about spring a few days ago and he posed the question, “What do you think a garden looked like in Jesus’ time.” Even today, in many countries it means something other than here in the US. It could be the entire yard or a sanctuary. It could be a spiritual place inside us where we go to be with God. All definitions agree that it is a place where boundaries and order are established so that a specific goal can be maintained.

The first garden we read about in the Bible is Eden. By all descriptions, it was a place of great beauty, abundant with food. We all know bits and pieces of the story. Adam was created and gifted with a lush garden space in which to dwell, with the expectation that he would tend it. Then, of course, God decided that Adam needed a helpmate and they were to work together to maintain the garden and were blessed with many delicious foods to eat. There was one simple rule that could not be broken. They were not to eat any fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why Eve thought it would be a good idea to taste it, we will never know and why Adam went along with the foolish idea will remain a mystery. But with that one infraction, the two of them sent our world on an uncontrollable downward spiral.

Several thousand years later, another garden appears in the Bible. It is called Gethsemane and we aren’t really offered an image of this one. Though we don’t know what grew there, we know something much more important. Jesus went there to pray about his impending sacrifice, taking with him three of his trusted disciples. We often concentrate on their lack of obedience and attention, but it would be helpful here to take a close look at Jesus, his prone body wracked with fear of the coming day, blood seeping from his pores amongst the sweat. It was here that he asked his Father to take the task before Him away— for a moment in time, he didn’t want to endure the pain. But, in the end, he told his Father that he would accept His will and carry out the conclusion of the earthly mission as set forth before time began.  

We will face our own Gardens of Gethsemane during our walk on earth. There will be times of heartbreaking trial, moments of fear. Jesus understands that—he experienced it. At those times, do what he did. Go to the Father.  

Don’t avoid life’s Gardens of Gethsemane. Enter them. Just don’t enter them alone. And while there, be honest. Pounding the ground is permitted. Tears are allowed. And if you sweat blood, you won’t be the first. Do what Jesus did; open your heart. Max Lucado, On Calvary’s Hill (originally from 3:16)

Eden was the beginning of our sin, Gethsemane was the beginning of our forgiveness. Two gardens, very different in their nature, but each bearing its own portion of our story, our promise. We will make mistakes because we are human, but Jesus is always waiting at the door to welcome us home. He knows your pain—he’s been there. Trust him.