A Garden Home, No. 183
Jeremiah 29:5, “Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.”
The first home was built by God. The predominant thing about this home is that it was a garden. It was called the garden of Eden. (Genesis 2:7, 15) The word Eden means delight. The first home was a prototype of all homes to come. Consequently, God wants our homes today to also be places of delight. We should seek to make our homes lovely, whether small or big. Of course we know that there is more to a home than the beautiful architecture and the décor. A beautiful looking home can have a cold and hateful atmosphere. A little hut can be filled with the atmosphere of heaven.
But there is something we must take notice of. The first home was a garden. God wants our home to be more than brick and timber. He wants it to be a garden, too. The garden was part of God’s plan for the home. It adds beauty to the home, but it also supports the home. The Knox translation of the above Scripture states it clear, “I would have you… plant yourselves gardens of your own to support you.” We often forget about gardens today because every kind of food we need from anywhere in the world is available at the local supermarket. We don’t really need a garden, or do we?
I am a great believer in keeping to the plan that God established in the beginning. I believe that part of our homemaking ministry is to help feed our family from the home garden. It provides for the family. It saves money. The nutritional benefit far surpasses any vegetables or fruit you can purchase at the supermarket. Most of them are sprayed with chemicals, and even if you could afford to buy organic vegetables, how long have they been sitting on the shelf? There is nothing more wonderful than to go to the home garden, harvest vegetables straight from the plants and prepare them for the meal immediately. This is the ultimate plan.
“Just a minute,” you exclaim. I can’t have a garden. I live in an apartment. This doesn’t relate to me.” Or maybe you live in a high rise. How can you have a garden? Even if you do have room for a garden, there are still challenges to face. When we moved to our land over seven years ago, we had plenty of room for a garden, but we still couldn’t grow anything. Our soil consisted of clay and stones. We had to purchase dirt which we protect by keeping it in raised beds. I keep replenishing my earth with compost and manure. I have a compost bucket under my counter where I save all peelings and raw scraps.
If you don’t have room to grow a garden outside, you can still grow herbs and vegetables in pots on your verandah or deck. You can grow herbs in pots on your windowsill. And if, for some impossible reason, you can’t do this, grow some sprouts! Grow something. Bring greenery into your home. Make it a garden. Make it a delight.
There are many Scriptures relating God with gardens. Where did God fellowship with Adam and Eve at the end of each day? In the garden! (Genesis 3:8-10)
Song of Solomon 8:13 tells us that our Heavenly Bridegroom dwells in the garden.
It was in a garden that Jesus was crucified, laid in the tomb and rose from the dead! (John 19:41; 20:15-16)
Isaiah 51:3, says, “For the Lord shall comfort Zion... and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” (cf. Genesis 13; 10) This is talking about God’s garden! We should also have Nancy’s garden, Susie’s garden, Debbie’s garden and so on.
What about your garden?
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
“Thank you, Lord, for showing me that a garden is part of the home. Please show me the best way to grow a garden in my situation. Amen.””
AFFIRMATION:
Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week.