God grows Gardeners

In a distant place, a barren land,
blistered and beaten by sun and sand
God whispered man a silent plan
"Plant a garden here young man".

"Here my Lord? It is scorched and dry
rock, thistle and sand here lie
All that I plant will come to die
but because you ask, I surely try".

" Give no heed to what you see
what I plan will come to be
Let all concern return to me
tend this ground on bended knee".

Man prayed as had been said
he went to work with faith instead
He broke the ground and daily fed
from heart and wounded hands that bled

Relentless sun was laid his crown
but spared the consecrated ground
Sand and wind would daily pound
but did not touched what he put down

Gentle rains with evening came
they fell, no where else the same
His ground grew rich, dark and tame
all other ground was ruin and shame

He labored long, spread hope and seed
kept from there the dangerous weed
He daily prayed its every need
his love became the garden's feed

From all the scorched and barren land
came plush a green out of the sand
From tender heart and calloused hand
erupted splender from the plan

Outstreched upon the wondrous ground
face impaled in the dirt he found
As though a man in earth could drown
his lips left praise in every mound

Then came again the voice once heard
it trembled in his heart as word
"Well youv'e done and well you serve
our garden grows from faith and nerve".

"I give you now far greater worth
another garden not of earth
Prepared for you before your birth
her only need to make her first".

"Give only gentle, tender care
truth alone should come to bear
Bathe her deep with daily prayer
all harshness, any anger spare".

"Give not to much to other men
she will grow from time you spend
Take not from her to give to them
most are pretenders, she the friend".

"Give great concern to what you grow
each day examine all you sow
For what you give in time will show
the depth of care revealed in row".

A garden feeds from caring hand
deprived of love it turns to sand
view the garden on his land
a window to the heart of man.