This the garden’s magic,
That through the sunny hours
The gardener who tends it,
Himself outgrows his flowers.
He grows by gift of patience,
Since he who sows must know
That only in the Lord’s good time
Does any seedling grow.
He learns from buds unfolding,
From each tight leaf unfurled,
That his own heart, expanding,
Is one with all the world.
He bares his head to sunshine,
His bending back a sign
Of grace, and ev’ry shower becomes
His sacramental wine.
And when at last his labors
Bring forth the very stuff
And substance of all beauty
This is reward enough.
~Marie Nettleton Carroll
Patience, what a difficult thing to master! At least it has been and still is for me at times. But as Emerson and Carroll assert, part of a garden’s magic is the gift of patience. So among other things I am learning that the anticipation of what unfolds from within the bud is almost as sweet as the blossom itself. Emory Austen said, “Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.” With that in mind I’m gonna be patient this week, be glad my snapdragons are blooming, believe that rain will come, and sing away as I continue to wait for my tulips to unfurl and this decade-long drought to end.
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. ~Romans 8:25 ✝
Sacred Touches 
Beautiful post. If you hear any way out of tune singing in the wind, it’s me … Watching a blossom unfurl is sometimes to much too bear. His awesome creative power is breathtaking.
LikeLike
Oh, I’m so glad I won’t be alone when I sing out of tune as I do! There are so many breathtaking things in a garden and watching a flower unfurl is definitely one of them. On a side not I planted a rose years ago called “Unforgettable,” and every time I walked by it I broke into an old Nat King Cole’s song called “Unforgettable.” Thanks for visiting my site again. I hope you have a lovely evening. Blessings, Natalie 🙂
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: 275. Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson | Sacred Touches
Beautiful poem and post, Natalie. I am actually becoming very impatient to get out into my garden. If only the rain would stop! Then I’ll be singing, too ~ Amelia 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Oh wow, I wish you could send us your rain! I pray it stops for you soon and when it does, I’ll listen for your singing. Hugs, Natalie 🙂
LikeLike
I’ll send it in a big container – there’s masses of it. Sorry I haven’t been over to your blog for so long, Natalie. I don;t see many of your posts in my reader I think it’s faulty. I get a good run, then it turns into a loop and the same half dozen just keep going round and round. I seem to miss loads of stuff everywhere. But…I will be back tomorrow to catch up on your very beautiful posts, my friend ~ Amelia ♥
LikeLike
Oh how I wish you could! Well that’s weird about my posts not showing up like they should. I wonder what’s up with that? I personally have a theory that there are gremlins up to mischief out in cyberspace and they cause glitches like that. Hey, you are a very
busy lady so don’t worry about catching up. It’s always a joy to here from you whenever that may be. 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
I am not being put off like that, Natalie. I am coming over, even if I have to gatecrash LOL.
I read a post recently where this man had a theory, his reader was always iffy, that WordPress were quietly trying to encourage people to go the way of the paid blog. There are, apparently, no problems ever on wordpress.org.
It is not just your posts, BTW, I miss loads of others too. And, the damn thing jumps all over the place, too. But, I’m sticking with it 🙂
LikeLike
Gatecrash away, missy! Now that’s an interesting and plausible theory knowing how money grubbing some folks are. N
LikeLike
I like it (working the garden) because it forces us to slow in a subtle way in which we are simply unaware of the peaceful slowing–a blessing indeed—hang on for all this predicted ice!!!
LikeLike
It stops time for me because I get out there and lose all sense of time and my brain stops all its churning. It is a very peaceful state of mind.
Oh, I’m afraid the predicted ice won’t be much here if at all. I do hope you don’t get too much of it. Stay warm and safe. 🙂
LikeLike
So wunderschön wünsche dir einen glücklichen schönen Tag liebe Grüße Gislinde
LikeLike
Vielen Dank und selben Sie. Segen, Natalie 🙂
LikeLike
Oh yes, patience… I tend to get impatient, pondering when, why, where… Thanks for these delightful reminders. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone! 🙂 Blessings, Bette
LikeLike
It’s nice to know I’m not alone either. Have a great week, Bette. Hugs, Natalie 🙂
LikeLike
You have a wonderful week, too, Natalie! 🙂
LikeLike