A Beautiful Garden

There once was a story of a beautiful garden. One day, the owner was guiding a few people through the garden paths. The people were gathering the beautiful flowers and enjoying their fragrant scents. However, there was one lady that was not enjoying the lovely garden. She was not following the guide by walking in the garden paths, but was walking among some thorns and briers. She kept pointing to the thorns and was grieving and complaining.
“Oh,” she cried, “is it not a pity that this beautiful garden is spoiled with thorns?” Then the owner said, “Let the thorns alone, for they will only wound you. Gather the roses, the lilies, and the pinks.”
The woman in the story could not enjoy the lovely garden because she neglected the guide who lead the people through the gentle paths, and was so focused on the thorns that she did not even notice the beautiful flowers.
Have you ever focused on the “thorns” in your life, yet failed to see the beautiful flowers blooming? If we only look for thorns and thistles, that is probably all we will find. Of course, we all have gone through difficult circumstances, but dwelling on these experiences will only wound and discourage us.
We all have had some bright experiences in our life. When we look back in the past, I am sure we can find evidences of how God has blessed us abundantly. Try and remember all the times God has encouraged you, wiped away your tears, and given you hope for the future.
David was being taunted and chased by his enemies. He says in Psalms 42:3, “My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is your God?” But then he remembers the loving kindness and goodness he had experienced from God and says, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God” (Psalms 42:11 NKJV).
God will be our hope and strength through any problems that we might face. As in the garden story, let us follow the true guide, our Father in Heaven, who will gently lead us through the paths we should go. Look around at the blessings in your life. Praise God for all He has done for you. The beautiful roses, lilies, and daisies, in your life’s garden will soon outshine any thorns in the way.
Ly Lan Nguyen