{"id":109,"date":"2010-02-08T02:19:05","date_gmt":"2010-02-08T09:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.masterofthehouse.org\/?p=109"},"modified":"2017-05-27T12:39:32","modified_gmt":"2017-05-27T18:39:32","slug":"the-garden-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/the-garden\/the-garden-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"The Garden – Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

16<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a017<\/a> –\u00a018<\/a> –\u00a019<\/a> – 20<\/a><\/p>\n

Sixteen<\/span><\/h5>\n

The rewards expanded by blessing of God,
\n our union produced Him new life.
\n Next garden creation was placed in our care
\n to teach from our love and our strife
\n which led to reunion, the closing of miles
\n in visit by parents of mine,
\n but joy became grievous.\u00a0 I was unprepared
\n when we were forced to draw the line.<\/p>\n

The women remained in our one bedroom flat
\n to share in the joy of our son
\n while dad and I went to prepare the new home,
\n enjoying the work to be done.<\/p>\n

We worked to completion the larger next home
\n and I loved the help he did give,
\n but I pained his speaking, his constant advice,
\n on how we as parents should live.
\n Because I respected him I heard him out,
\n yet my heart said not to agree.
\n Though he was my teacher, my learnings now showed
\n he taught while unable to see.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou teach the boy manhood, to stand up to all
\n for weakness will never endure,
\n and many will push him so he must push first.
\n That he can push you should ensure.\u201d<\/p>\n

I silently dealt with my inner debate
\n not wishing to dishonour him,
\n then answer was sure.\u00a0 I must tell him the truth.
\n The Seed is instruction, not whim.<\/p>\n

The Light of Seed Special shines on every soil.
\n In this, dad\u2019s soil also belonged.
\n Agreement with him was a block to his Light,
\n to state it as right what was wrong.
\n And truth, simply spoken, no wish to contend,
\n I presented plain in his sight,
\n \u201cI will teach to manhood and how to stand firm,
\n but push is not proper to Light.\u201d<\/p>\n

The stony, chill feelings upon their goodbye
\n showed my wife had not better fared.
\n My mother praised money as basis for boy.
\n Respectful, my wife stopped her there.<\/p>\n

Alone, I gave study the change which was clear:
\n they were not the pair of my youth.
\n Though they had provided, and taught me in right,
\n their words were of rote and not Truth.
\n Our prayers were requests that their blindness would lift,
\n that Light would help them understand,
\n but though I could lose them the truth must endure
\n by shining of Light in our hand.<\/p>\n

I tried posting letters (response was the same<\/em>)
\n to reconcile with them in Light.
\n Unless I obeyed them they would not forgive.
\n Regretful, I stepped from their sight.
\n But, sorrow was lifted by new flowers grown!
\n I gained of the best by the worst.
\n Despite my desires, I denied myself
\n to keep truth of Special Plant first.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Seventeen<\/span><\/h5>\n

We tended our boy-gift and worked to provide
\n with \u201cno\u201d word to guide to His name.
\n We taught him to garden when thought patterns grew
\n and death of his first flower came.<\/p>\n

Our evening discussions amid cards or games
\n would teach him the Seed Special way
\n and he took to learning like fish to the sea,
\n his questions increased every day.<\/p>\n

Then on his first school day we pained in our smiles
\n (his tastes of the world must be faced<\/em>).
\n His holding Seed Special the world would oppose.
\n We prayed his would not lay to waste.<\/p>\n

Our family talks were to learn of his day
\n and teach him, in Light, what to do.
\n We joyed his confession, though serious faced,
\n he spoke false and nobody knew.
\n But though we were teachers we had more to learn.
\n His garden was claimed as our own
\n with signs of his goodness a credit to us,
\n and pride caused us to be alone\u2026<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

Our frenzied arrival to hospital bed
\n drove home the shock of sudden news:
\n our boy suffered injury playing at school,
\n the battle for life he might lose!!<\/p>\n

The life support beeped its mechanical hope,
\n the tubes which conveyed blood and air
\n surrounded our blessing (we were so unfit!<\/em>),
\n his stillness spoke volumes in there
\n for what God has given He can take away.
\n It was to be His Word we taught.
\n But we sought possession of what was not ours.
\n This grief was what vanity bought.<\/p>\n

We prayed in the chapel, we knelt by his bed,
\n while pleading He grant a new start,
\n but life support flat-lined at end of one week
\n to signal the stop of his heart!..<\/p>\n

The code-blue was sounded and nurses made haste.
\n They ushered us into the hall.
\n We both prayed the Father, \u201cYour wisdom is great.
\n We\u2019ll suffer this loss for our fall.
\n Our flowers, his flowers, the bloomings of all,
\n Creator, they belong to You.
\n We are but stewards of Grace You extend,
\n it\u2019s Your will and glory we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our gardens abounded for heeding His will,
\n and reasons for thanks were increased
\n when doctor said, smiling, \u201cI cannot explain.
\n Despite odds his life has not ceased.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our thankfulness sounded!\u00a0 God\u2019s glory unchecked
\n for all there applauded the joy!
\n Forgiveness was given, His mercy saw fit
\n to resume us teaching His boy.
\n Unshaven, dishevelled \u2013 she was a mess, too \u2013
\n results of our seven day brood
\n collapsed into nothing when he opened eyes
\n and smiled, saying, \u201cI want some food.\u201d<\/p>\n

The home celebration when his health returned
\n was laughter as all who could, came.
\n Our trumpet on rooftop bore witness of truth:
\n thanks given through Special Plant\u2019s Name
\n as even in crisis He stood by our side
\n to guide us in trying to cope.
\n So faithful the presence of He who is Love
\n that turmoil is but means to hope.<\/p>\n

A hope that\u2019s rewarded by more than what\u2019s lost
\n for certain He\u2019d always remain
\n to add to us, blessing us, filling our cups
\n with more than we ever hoped gain.<\/p>\n

So gladness surprised by my parents on phone
\n (their absence embarrassment bid<\/em>).
\n In their words the Light shone, and humbly expressed
\n my dad\u2019s proud, \u201cCan we see the kid?\u201d
\n I fully invited their presence, assured
\n that honour was still theirs from me.
\n They thanked me that they had not meddled more harm,
\n \u201cYour words of Light helped us to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

We praised the Creator of gardens of us
\n (forgetting, we could not afford<\/em>).
\n When our life was tragic it was only Him
\n who caused that all things be restored.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Eighteen<\/span><\/h5>\n

We travelled the years in the time stream, our path
\n made straight by our Special Plant\u2019s way.
\n The passing of our younger times was not mourned.
\n Plant Special meant tasting each day.
\n We found them quite filling, both easy and hard,
\n as all things held something to learn,
\n and well taken learnings help new flowers grow.
\n Abundance, good pupils do earn.<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Nineteen<\/span><\/h5>\n

The time came I wandered from my straightened path
\n by thinking how much I was good.
\n \u201cThe fruits of my labour,\u201d I patted my back,
\n \u201care right for I do as I should.\u201d<\/p>\n

I felt as God\u2019s favourite, my garden the proof
\n that actions provided the why,
\n but where I had come from was knocked at my door:
\n said woman, \u201cYour daughter am I.\u201d ..!<\/p>\n

My wife was out shopping, my boy playing ball
\n (they need not to witness my shame<\/em>),
\n this woman describing her mother, once mine,
\n for I could not recall her name.
\n I fretfully studied this one whom I sired
\n (her denim and studs looked a joke<\/em>).
\n There was disguised beauty, just aged twenty years.
\n She clouded her face with a smoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was only a boy (I found voice at last<\/em>)
\n when your mom and I became one.
\n I\u2019d not known Seed Special, my ignorance showed.
\n I used her and then I had run!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe time is,\u201d she told me, \u201cthe piper be paid.
\n You danced and the band has a price.
\n Since you are my father you must tend to yours
\n with snake-eyes the roll of your dice.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour mother said nothing,\u201d came my lame excuse,
\n \u201cI knew nothing of you, at all.\u201d
\n \u201cShe never did love you, does not know I\u2019m here.
\n It\u2019s my reasons I give you call.\u201d<\/p>\n

An ugly word: blackmail.\u00a0 Effective it is
\n on one who\u2019s forgotten the Lord.
\n I valued my goodness and not what was right.
\n I gave her all I could afford.<\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

My moping, apparent to my wife and son
\n was kept silenced in my regret.
\n I feared a returning when money was gone
\n of weed garden I did beget.
\n Then I saw my garden (the flowers ignored
\n as products of Light given seeds<\/em>)
\n was quickly approached by the spoiler of gains,
\n the long forgot presence of weeds!<\/p>\n

Immediately I made haste to a church.
\n I prayed in Plant Special to God.
\n My vain risen ego had caused weeds to grow.
\n I prayed He would not spare the rod.
\n I thought the return of weeds had shamed my Lord
\n and mercy I could not have sought.
\n I wanted to suffer!\u00a0 I richly deserved
\n that loss of the Plant be my lot!<\/p>\n

But elderly preacher had heard my dismay.
\n He spoke wisdom into my ear,
\n \u201cAre you letting weeds grow?\u201d \u2013 I had just found out \u2013
\n \u201cThen, son you have nothing to fear.
\n When weeds come apparent, though Seed Special grows,
\n the choice is then given to you
\n to let weeds continue or seek them removed.
\n Peace of mind\u2019s in what you do.<\/p>\n

“Your skeletoned closet was merely to show
\n that, while in this world, there is strife.
\n To feel you are perfect states your work is done,
\n but work only ends with this life.
\n Plant Special is not lost, Its purpose endures
\n to lead you in walk that is yours.
\n Your work is deciding between right and wrong,
\n and such tasks come to men in scores.<\/p>\n

“Continued, not caring that your choice is wrong
\n delivers Plant Special to shame,
\n but opting for God\u2019s way gives glory to Plant
\n whose Light then keeps you in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

He left me to wonder the truth of his words
\n and resolve the way to proceed:
\n confession to family, they deserved the truth,
\n while tending my daughter\u2019s true need.<\/p>\n

I had not expected reaction of wife.
\n She held her hurt hidden from me.
\n My son was astounded from learning that I
\n was human, not built perfectly.<\/p>\n

They both would vacation while I remained home.
\n At her father\u2019s house they would stay.
\n \u201cIt\u2019s not of your daughter,\u201d her reasons explained,
\n \u201cnot trusting us takes us away.\u201d<\/p>\n

I knew this was needed, her time spent alone,
\n so I helped their things to the car.
\n My presence would not help her sort out her thoughts
\n… so my presence sat in a bar.<\/p>\n

Though I received preacher of wisdom in words
\n my mind of myself read them first
\n to seek out the method where I\u2019d save the day,
\n where failure could call me the worst.<\/p>\n

Accused as unworthy, declaimed as a fraud
\n with critical thoughts all around.
\n Since I was so useless I could not debate
\n these judgments, so I sought them drowned.<\/p>\n

The cold kitchen tiles were my call to the morn,
\n the first in a lot of unease.
\n My throat craved for water, my ears were fine tuned
\n (how long just to get to my knees!<\/em>).
\n I struggled a coffee, then sloughed to a chair.
\n The cobwebs slow motioned my feet.
\n An effort was needed to focus my mind:
\n \u2026 some hair-of-the-dog would be meet.<\/p>\n

I had bought a bottle \u2013 I could not say when
\n for hazy recalled was the night \u2013
\n and not quite half empty it offered the chance
\n for setting pain cobwebs to right.<\/p>\n

There was no excuse for the merry-go-round.
\n My conscious stayed deeply in sleep,
\n but body did not have the sense to lay down
\n again sowing folly to reap.<\/p>\n

The next day awakened (at least on the couch<\/em>)
\n to wonder why I lived and how,
\n but pain became frozen when strange woman spoke
\n from bedroom, \u201cHow do you feel now?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy God!\u00a0 What have I done!?!\u201d I cried in dismay
\n (and renewed the pain in my head<\/em>),
\n \u201cI\u2019ve taken on strange flesh in my carnal lust
\n to desecrate my marriage bed!\u201d<\/p>\n

Her laughter seemed mockery of my despair,
\n to salt the wounds already raw.
\n \u201cFree your mind from worry,\u201d she gasped close to tears,
\n \u201cYou broke not what God said was law.
\n You helped me in tavern when bullies had pushed.
\n \u2018Let chivalry live!\u2019 was your cry.
\n Your pickled condition could not let you fight
\n nor lust.\u00a0 But now, how is your eye?\u201d<\/p>\n

My pained head was not only liquor induced,
\n my left eye would not let me see.
\n \u201cYou were one-punch hero.\u201d\u00a0 And irony seen,
\n for one punch was given to me.<\/p>\n

She merely was helping a misguided man
\n to make sure he got home okay.
\n It was for my safety, for I was quite drunk,
\n that had her remain until day.
\n I thanked her for kindness as coffee was made
\n and we settled down for a chat.
\n \u201cYou called to the Father,\u201d she said off-the-cuff,
\n \u201cnow why would you want to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy life had Plant Special,\u201d I explained to her,
\n \u201cfor His Light was one time my Lord,
\n but I am unworthy enough as it is.
\n Adultery goes overboard.
\n Since I am a failure I needed to pay
\n for grief which was caused by my life,
\n but hurting another by self-imposed pain
\n is wrong, and especially my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d she conceded, but not with a laugh
\n as I thought she would want to do,
\n \u201cIf you feel unworthy, why do you seek right?
\n Does your heart reflect Light in you?\u201d<\/p>\n

I told her the story of daughter returned,
\n how pride made my family go,
\n how I had not helped daughter deal with her weeds,
\n how self pity brought me this low.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps you should let go of what you call self.
\n It\u2019s not really yours, anyway.
\n All things are the Father\u2019s to use as He wills.
\n Your only choice is let Light stay.
\n Your calling the shots for restoring the past
\n and stating the methods to pay,
\n removing yourself as your own punishment
\n does not sound the least like His way.<\/p>\n

You know how He suffered in garden, His own,
\n so ALL weeds are taken by Plant.
\n By living your judgments of methods and price
\n says He did not do this, and can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

The words she had spoken agreed with my heart
\n (I thought I deserved what was mine<\/em>).
\n Unprofitted servant who does as is bid
\n is what the Lord regards as fine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I cease this drinking by bottle to sink,\u201d
\n I said, pouring liquor down drain,
\n \u201cand I\u2019ll wait on God\u2019s Light to show me the way
\n in patience, despite all the strain.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou feel it is worth it?\u201d she queried my choice.
\n \u201cI do.\u201d I confirmed to my call,
\n \u201cThe Father awaited, though time may be long,
\n is better than not God at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled as she left, looking pleased at my choice,
\n but her last words puzzled my mind:
\n \u201cFret not for your daughter.\u00a0 The Lord has His plans,
\n but her Light is not yours to find.\u201d<\/p>\n

I thoughtfully studied on what I would say
\n when I, before God, bent my knee.
\n I knew for my own sake my heart must be sure.
\n My heart and my words must agree.
\n The Light showed my folly by showing what\u2019s right
\n as I pondered lesson I learned.
\n Then, finally ready, the Father I prayed
\n and spoke of the things I now yearned:<\/p>\n

\u201cI regret my thinking Your Plant not enough,
\n that more should be added to Grace.
\n Just once on the cross assured all was complete
\n with my life now hid in His face.<\/p>\n

“I\u2019ll not ask my wife back, nor with her my son,
\n nor daughter I sired long ago.
\n I ask only your Grace to let me keep Plant,
\n ensuring my garden will grow.
\n I need the Plant Special, my life is a gift
\n and all things in this world must pass.
\n I can\u2019t take it with me, so garden is all.
\n Good flowers in Light would amass.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/h3>\n

Twenty<\/span><\/h5>\n

I gave the predominance to my Plant\u2019s Light
\n for choosing the good over bad.
\n When I certained His mind then I would agree,
\n content with the things that I had.<\/p>\n

A tender relationship was in His way
\n as closer I sought out His will.
\n He was not a sergeant to bark out commands
\n and leave me to trust my own skill,
\n for though I had felt of His mercy to bless
\n I now deeper saw Gift as free
\n which knew who I was, and I am, and will be,
\n yet wholly accepted this me.<\/p>\n

The more that I realized how much He had gave,
\n the more I desired to give back
\n in His name as worship (a curious thing:
\n to give of Plant never saw lack<\/em>).
\n As charity, worship, an offer of praise,
\n was simply to say, \u201cAll is Yours.\u201d
\n The Lord gives the family, the health and the wage,
\n supplying from heavenly stores.<\/p>\n

My garden was prospered.\u00a0 My family came home
\n (not mine, to the Lord they belonged<\/em>),
\n and I would not covet their presence returned
\n as I found great distaste for wrong.<\/p>\n

Yet I often wondered about her who helped.
\n Not one in our town heard of her,
\n but Gardening Studies of Botany book
\n revealed what I would feel as sure.
\n Some could say delusion, some could say a lie,
\n no matter for I myself know:
\n \u2018twas ministering angel sent out as an aide
\n and guide for my flowers to grow.<\/p>\n

So much was my value to Father above
\n that He would not stop seeking me.
\n He called and He sent and He reached \u2026 then again,
\n until I could hear and get free
\n from bonds of deception in my foolishness
\n where I thought He\u2019d never forgive.
\n The impact, gigantic; He does not give up!
\n He\u2019d be for me long as I live.<\/p>\n

This inner renewal expanded Love\u2019s love
\n in caring for my wife and son,
\n and one day the headlines confirmed angel\u2019s words:
\n \u201cThe will of the Father be done.\u201d<\/p>\n

For there was my daughter \u2013 a photo which beamed
\n and only the face was the same \u2013
\n an excellent writing award was her gain.
\n Success was at last to her name.
\n Upon further reading, her writing I found
\n reflected allusion to Light.
\n Though we never met again I knew the truth:
\n the Lord\u2019s plan proceeded aright.<\/p>\n

<< Part 3<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Part 5 >><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

16\u00a0–\u00a017 –\u00a018 –\u00a019 – 20 Sixteen The rewards expanded by blessing of God, our union produced Him new life. Next garden creation was placed in our care to teach from our love and our strife which led to reunion, the closing of miles in visit by parents of mine, but joy became grievous.\u00a0 I was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-109","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-the-garden","7":"entry","8":"override"},"acf":[],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Master of the House","author_link":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/author\/master-of-the-house\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterofthehouse.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}