"My Incredible Memory Garden"

                                             

Today is not mothers day, but since we were celebrating memorial day at church, I was also reminded of my wonderful mother. She was so special to me, but I failed to tell her that. I did a lot of nice things for my mother, but if she was still here, I would do more. She has been gone for nineteen years, but it seems like only yesterday. I can still see her standing before the mirror making her beautiful face look more beautiful with the Cody and Max Factor make-up she used so often. She taught me to make her delicious yeast rolls and loafs of bread, but most of all she taught me to love everyone even when they were unlovable. I have lost many loved ones, and I have wonderful memories of them all.

Today was the day to especially remember all of those who fought for our freedom, and those who died for that cause. I can never thank them enough. My daily prayer is, “Lord help me to do more for all who are involved in keeping my country free. Bless them to the fullest.” I can’t do a lot with finances, but I can, and do give some. I help in several other ways, even if it is just a yard sign, or a telephone call to support those whom I believe in. I do a lot of writing, even if it may not be reaching a lot of people, and even though I am not a choice writer, I believe God’s word when He said, “My word shall not return to me void.” Among my incredible memory garden I have planted many words of everlasting truth. I believe that some day my memory garden will spring up and blossom from all the seeds I have planted, and my many loved ones and friends will be there to help me celebrate.

I want to share one of my favorite quotes from an American editor and critic. He taught at Yale for twenty years. Henry Seidel Canby.

“Good writing is always a breaking of the soil, clearing away prejudices, pulling up of sour weeds of crooked thinking, stripping the turf so as to get at what is fertile beneath. It would be amusing to carry the simile further. Those bulbs that flower in the sand and wither! The gay fiction annual that has to be planted again every year! Those experimental plants from Russia, France, and Greenwich Village that are always getting winter killed-----confound ‘em!----is it worth while planting them again? The stocky perennial that keeps coming up---so easy to grow and so ugly. Scarlet sage that gives a touch of fiery sin to the edge of the suburbanite’s concrete walk! And then the good flowers---as honest as they are beautiful! The well-ordered gar den! The climbing rose that escapes and is the most beautiful of all!

Henry Seidel Canby

Mr. Canby recognizes the mixture of God’s beautiful and ugly flowers. He also admits that all must be cared for in their own way. Some require much work, while others require little. Do we get to pick and choose which of God’s flowers we want in our flower garden? “God help us to love them all.”

“Every life is a flower in God’s bouquet.”

Myrtle Jean Sharp