The Garden

Dear The One,

I've been learning and growing. Mostly learning, hoping to grow. :P

Recently, I've realized that every woman is like a garden. She brings her own soil, rich or poor. She selects the flowers she loves. Does she want trees for shade or brilliant open places? Do the colors clash or do the petals compliment one another? Does she want terraces or lazy stonework paths? Both? (You greedy).

It is her garden. She chooses what goes there. She works on it. She builds it. She nurtures it, and hopefully, she grows because of it.

Every time she lets someone into her garden she takes a risk. What will they plant here? Will they take a look and leave? What if she reveals the uncultivated and ugly places, will they turn up their noses? Will they tell her she's planted everything wrong and demand she change? Will they bring invasive species to overrun her and rework her into something she never desired? What if they criticize the things she loves? Will she rip out her own wonders just to please them?

For this reason, women must be careful who they let into their hearts. I've seen many women destroyed by a wicked man, wayward friends, or doubts that refuse the sunshine.

Ultimately, though, women have the opportunity to choose for themselves a gardener. They often let in handsome and charming men who sweep them off of their feet. Sometimes the nerd convinces the cheerleader to let him be the gardener, sometimes the broken man wins the healing woman, and sometimes the liar gets the good girl.  She falls in love and trusts this person with the keys to the gate. From there, her development will be affected by this man. She can refuse his changes, or love them, but until he is gone, he becomes the gardener there.

Unluckily for me, I haven't had many chances to practice the skills of a good gardener. I'm not very certain what it means to cherish a woman. I'm not sure how to respectfully help her weed, remember to water, and defend her plants from insects and animals.

All I know is that every garden needs a good gardener and every woman can be blessed by a good man, and the Lord will hold me responsible if I don't fulfill those responsibilities well.

I promise you, I have the desire to be that good man, to cultivate your garden with you. I hope you can forgive me if I'm still learning how my thumb can be greener.

Onward and Upward,

Aaron Pennam