by Mary Griffiths

Created on: May 15, 2009   Last Updated: October 26, 2009

My Great, True, Personal Garden Story

Where I live this is the time of year to get the garden ready for planting vegetables. As I sit here shoveling cow manure into my garden, I can't help but think back to Twenty one years ago. I was eight months pregnant with my first child, a son. It was an unusually hot spring, but yet I was determined to get my garden planted before he arrived. I can remember being on my hands and knees digging, fertilizing, planting, all the while dripping with sweat. Now, as I prepare to attend his college graduation tonight, I can't help but think of the comparison between the two. All the hard work and sweat that was put into that garden reminds me of all the hard yet joyous work that was put into raising my son. That cow manure in my garden that was used to help things grow was like the love, understanding and patience that went into helping my son grow into the wonder young man he has become.

Throughout all the many years since then, and all the many gardens I have planted, I can find similarities between the two. With a garden you have years of great success with a bountiful harvest. Other years mother nature gives out more than you can handle and the harvest is disappointing. There are years where you plant many times only to reap a less than desirable harvest. You just have to hope for a better year next time.

My son has had great success in his life, yet there is always those time of disappointment. He has always been gifted in his sporting ability, but in his schoolwork he has much difficulty. While he would be happy to score goals in soccer, he often couldn't be very happy with classwork. It's heartbreaking to watch your child be hurt and disappointed. When he would bring home poor grades or fail exams, I would have to try to convince him to try again. As with the garden, the next time may give you a better turnout. That was generally the way things always worked out.

As I prepare to plant this years garden and watch my son walk across that stage to receive his diploma, I will wonder again how this year will turn out. I will continue to nourish them both with all the love I can give. I have a feeling that both my garden and my son will have a wonderful and very prosperous year, and I look forward to many more for both of them.

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