by Pam Tinsley

“Plant your garden. No matter what, plant your garden” were the wise words that Bob, a devoted father, offered his son as Bob lay dying in the early spring. The son understood Bob’s words literally. After all, his dad was an avid gardener who never failed to plant his garden every spring.

Yet, I think Bob’s words have a deeper spiritual meaning, and the garden that he had planted, tended, and nurtured was the garden of friends and family – of relationships – in his life. Wherever he was – whether at church or at the store or a restaurant – Bob greeted everyone he met as though they were an old friend. He reached out and made connections, so that each relationship grew like a seedling.

Bob’s life was grounded in Christ. He truly living out his baptismal promises by seeking and serving Christ in all persons and loving his neighbor as himself. As a state patrol officer, he served his wider community. As a friend, parent, husband, and parishioner, he served others – always planting and tending his garden as Jesus would, sowing Jesus’ way of love.

I’m struck by how we all can apply Bob’s wisdom to our own gardens. We can enrich the soil with the apostles’ teaching and faithful prayer and Eucharist. We plant our seeds of our relationships with love, and nurture them with respect and by seeking Jesus’ goodness and guidance. As our gardens blossom and flourish, we then share the good fruits with one another. And it all begins with that first step of planting our gardens!