My Angel In The Garden

This morning started out an ordinary day; coffee, morning news, seeing Billy off to work and once the dew was no longer so heavy, garden time with Jesus.  That is what my garden time is all about, I thank Him for all His wonderful blessings and have a little praise and worship; and then I just listen.  This one certain morning would in no way be like any other day, and I am thankful for listening for anything He may say or any thoughts He may press upon my mind.  I know some say He speaks in a still, small voice; and I truly do agree that sometimes He does.  As I was picking green beans in the midst of rows that towered over me; I heard a distinct voice say ” hey little baby, where’s your mama?”

  Having figured Billy’s mom had come earlier than I had expected to pick up her bushel of beans, and that she must be talking to our little four pound  pomchi, Sally; who was on the porch laying in the shade.  I turned and walked to the end of the row to look toward our front porch; and to my amazement, no one was at the porch or anywhere in view.  I stood there thinking to myself as I continued to look around the yard,” I know what I heard and I know it was a woman’s voice”.  But just as I turned to walk back into the garden, I caught out of the corner of my eye; a little blonde headed boy about three years old, not a stitch of clothes on; running down the little side street as hard as he could run toward the main road.

As I took off running toward him, wanting to catch him before he could get near the intersection; I yelled “you stop now!”, and he did just that.  But no sooner did he stop and grin at me; he resumed his mad dash toward the main road.  In what I can only describe as a brief moment because it all had happened so fast; I threw my hands up in the air as I ran toward him and shouted “oh God, stop him now!”  And at that moment; he stopped and when I picked him up and turned to take him back down the little side street, his mother was walking in my direction.  Figuring she saw me carrying her child, she turned and started back in the other direction.  But when I finally got her attention, she approached me and all she said was “boy, why ain’t you got no clothes on?”  I expected her to be joyous that she had found her little lamb, seeing that she came as close as she did to losing him for what would seem an eternity.  Upon returning to the garden, I broke down and I thanked God for letting me hear that voice; as well as thankful that I had listened and didn’t just keep picking beans.  I remembered while still in the garden, twenty-seven years and four days prior, my oldest son Josh was killed by a car. And I thanked God for allowing me to be in the garden that day, so his mother wouldn’t have to suffer through the anguish and sorrow that I had those many years before.

I can tell as I sit and write this, that God is good.  His mercy and His grace have brought me to where I am today.  I have come to the realization that I never could have made it to where I am today, had it not been for His Love and Longsuffering; and a praying mother of my own.

7/28/13