The Back Yard

We had no wind today! Unusual for the coast, but it was warm and still.

Every summer I look forward to sitting out in the early morning, my favorite deep red and blue fuzzy blanket over my lap, reading my Bible. That's my favorite time to read. Sitting out in the sweet air, my simple flower garden in view, and my two little guys...my canine companions... at my side....this is life. I try not to see things that need to be done. I end up looking.

We had rabbits once. Neighborhood dogs got into the yard and tried their best to ram the cage and get to the rabbits. It was frightening for them, and stressful for me. Every night they would come, and every night I'd try to chase them away. We bought a BB gun. I couldn't aim good enough. Finally we gave the rabbits away. I now have an old rabbit hutch, no way to move it, so I planted a climbing rose in front and thought it might grow over it. It didn't. The poor rose plant is diseased and pitiful looking. (I just can't grow roses!) Maybe I'll try Ivy. My husband, Ron, used to say that Ivy took over everything. Yes, I'll try Ivy. I thought of fake furry rabbits, but decided they'd just look like fake furry rabbits in a very well made cage. :)

Even the not so nice looking things have memories. I look and remember and remembering takes me to another times and memories of my yard.

So much life has happened here. Kids growing up in this yard. My husband used to spend hours working in this yard. He loved planting a vegetable garden. We always had that. No more. He planted dahlias and Irises and Foxgloves. They come back every year to remind me life and death...and seasons.

Now everything is simple. The grass is still green. The apple trees still bloom and produce. Lilacs are there every year. Now there is no vegetable garden, just a little herb garden.

Some things change, but the life picture I've taken of this yard hasn't changed. I've sat in my yard for over 30 years. That hasn't changed.

And the words in my Bible haven't changed. My understanding changes, grows, but the Words of God to me are forever and eternal. I'll close my eyes one last time and move into eternity, someone else will sit in my backyard, my grandchildren will have their own children. Time changes everything but God's promises.

I believe in my innermost being, God and I have a shared backyard. We enjoy each other, talk about the coming day. He promises me that He has left His Spirit, and that in Christ, we truly share one Spirit.

I think God's backyard is my backyard right now. Not just when I leave this life, but right now. He even likes my fuzzy blanket. :) In my heart, we sit together every morning.

Rainee