God's Delight

According to Mother Teresa, God delights in us; not only does He love us---He likes us, despite all our flaws and failings.  He thirsts to be with us, to spend time in our presence.  And it doesn't matter whether we are being "good" or not; He just wants to look at us with favor.  He can make us good, but He cannot make us spend time with Him or pay attention to Him.

Each morning, I grab a cup of coffee and visit my garden.  Walking slowly and attentively, I make the entire round of the property.  This is my creation; since Katrina, I have carefully chosen each plant, rid the beds of stubborn weeds, and prepared the soil.  Now I want to see if my plants are thriving where I put them, or if they need to be moved to a more nurturing environment.  Each one has a name, and I know each by name.  Each has its own characteristics; each has its own delight; each has its own weakness.  Some will bloom wherever I put them; others need special conditions to coax them to be their best.

Recently on my rounds, I noticed a lantana that seemed to be struggling in the wet soil and partially shaded garden where I had it planted. Its leaves were curling up and turning grey on the edges, and I saw only one weak bloom at the end of a branch.  That day, I pulled it out of that bed and moved it to a recently cleared spot in full sun with drier soil.  Ever since then, the lantana has been "jumping for joy," in the words of my 5-year-old granddaughter.  As I arrive at its new spot each morning, I can almost see it laughing with multiple bright blooms, almost too many for the few little branches it now has.  It smiles at me, and I smile back at it, knowing that it is now in a place that makes it shine.

Nothing brings more joy to a gardener than to see his/her plants thrive and be happy where they are.  When they are obviously not happy, or when they are struggling to survive, the gardener immediately diagnoses the problem and goes to work on it, shoring up weak branches, composting its roots, or even moving it if necessary.  Truly, the gardener, like the Good Shepherd, will "leave the 99" to pay attention to the one most in need of care.

Each plant is loved and cared for according to its own nature and requirements.  Tall strong trees are loved for their shade and dependability and movement in the wind.  But small fragile flowers are loved for their bright colors and delicate scent.  They are not treated "equally" by the Gardener, but both are deeply loved and appreciated for the gifts they bring to the entire garden.  He does not ask the rose to be an oak, nor does He ask the oak to be a rose.  Be who you are, He says, and ask for what you need.  I am your God; I will provide.