I really have never been a flower person
This is because I have a phobia for snakes and felt they invite them
I admire beautiful gardens but never wanted one
But I had to do it afraid
Five years ago, December I commissioned my gardener to prepare my landscapes for not only flowers but vegetables
He removed the stones, tilled the soil. Added manure, then watered the ground.
All this long before we even bought the plants
We then chose plants.
I chose the Christmas tree, the moringha tree, queen of the night, white rose, red rose, hibiscus,Grown of tough, abiscus, murica, asura, sun flowers, tuyers, fragipakle, lilies, More : London bell, olanda, green bush,yellow ficus,
I planted ugu, scent leaves, okro, tomatoes, bitter-leaves, water leaves, aloe Vera, etc
I sha just planted, and planted and planted, the more I planted, the more I fell in love with the outcome.
I have changed gardners over the years, my gardener from my first home in lagos was the one who started the garden project
I then hired another. But I always needed to follow him up and I believe adults should take initiative and do their work with passion.
We live in lekki, the natural habitat is full of reptiles.
When we had seen a snake in the engine of my car that I had packed for a while, this was my queue to fire this my gardener.
I sprung into action, left the house for a weekend, fumigated, planted as many anti snake plants in strategic parts of my home.
I then hired the best, passionate, responsible, reliable gardener I have been privileged to work with , Don Hanson, oh my oh my. My garden has blossomed, thrived.
Don’t run off, I am getting somewhere.
My trees have grown so well, we have had to prune them because of the electric wires.
We have to weed consistently
We have to put manure periodically
The flowers, the roses, etc are a tranquil sight to behold.
Now to the crux of all this gist.
From a hard ground full of stones and debris sprang forth this beautiful garden.
Our lives, our hearts are like this soil n ground
The Holy Spirit first while we are yet sinners, convicts us of our sins and brings us to repentance, he causes our hearts of stone to become good soil to plant his word.
He then plants the seeds of his word in our hearts, he waters it daily with our cooperation of course, he adds manure, from time to time he removes the weeds, and year in year out he continues this process, day in day out.
We then begin to blossom, we are aglow in the spirit.
Of course we grow, but with boundaries and guard rails. You see the trees had to be pruned from time to time.
Then there was the snake, the devil will always prance around, moving about, looking for an opportunity to enter, but God said we should humble ourselves, resist the devil and he will flee.
I had three different gardeners, the one who started the process, the one who contributed it and now Don Hanson, who has continued the work.
My dear, Paul planted, Appollos watered. It’s God that gives the increase.
This has been a long read, hope it blessed you
Yours in his majesty’s service
*** Ajiri Okoro wrote from Lagos.
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