Gleanings from a Glens Girl: There must be a pony in here

Gleanings from a Glens Girl: There must be a pony in here: Two boys were waiting for their birthdays to come. One was a pessimist and the other an optimist. The first boy was a greedy boy a...

There must be a pony in here

Two boys were waiting for their birthdays to come. One was a pessimist and the other an optimist. The first boy was a greedy boy and wanted so many things but most especially he expected to get a drum.  When his birthday came he walked into his room and opened present after wonderful present. But, when no drum appeared, he sat down and wailed.

The second boy had no expectations of what he wanted for his birthday.  He would be happy with whatever came his way.  When the day came, he went into his room and all he found was a pile of manure.  He gleefully ran out to the shed, got a spade and started digging into the manure.  When asked what he thought he was doing, he replied

“with all this manure around, there must be a pony in here somewhere!”

One boy was the eternal pessimist and the other the eternal optimist! Having a positive attitude can stand us in good stead.  None more so than when we are living with so many restrictions in our lives.

It can be so easy to dwell on the negative – on what is wrong with the world. But, our faith is one of positivism.

Of the belief that God’s kingdom is possible here and now. That good can come out of bad. That the broken can be mended. That the lost can be found. That the light can shine through darkness. That sunshine can follow rain.

When we feel the pull of pessimism dragging us down may we remember the wee boy with the spade and keep looking for the positives in our situation.

Gleanings from a Glens Girl: Close to God in a garden

Gleanings from a Glens Girl: Close to God in a garden: The garden centres have reopened. I know for many folks this news will have been greeted with a great sigh of relief. I went alon...

Close to God in a garden

The garden centres have reopened. I know for many folks this news will have been greeted with a great sigh of relief. I went along to my local garden centre and noticed people happily browsing along the rows of bedding plants, perennials, and annuals. 

Others were examining the fruit trees, ferns and shrubs. A number were piling their trolleys with large bags of compost and tomato plants. All were following the one-way system in our new mode of shopping.

The delight was palpable on their faces as they chose the items that were to be taken home to enhance their gardens. I modestly purchased a new fork, trowel and gloves with the aim to take up gardening as a new hobby. I do have a lone Hosta waiting to be planted but the ground will need some severe weeding first!

Of course, in among the plants were pots, water features, gnomes, and the like, I spotted a sign that you could purchase for your garden. It read:-

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,–
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

When I got home I looked it up and found it was part of a poem by poet and hymn-writer Dorothy Frances Gurney.

The Lord God planted a garden
In the first white days of the world,
And He set there an angel warden
In a garment of light enfurled.

So near to the peace of Heaven,
That the hawk might nest with the wren,
For there in the cool of the even
God walked with the first of men.

And I dream that these garden-closes

With their shade and their sun-flecked sod
And their lilies and bowers of roses,
Were laid by the hand of God.

The kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,–
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.

For He broke it for us in a garden
Under the olive-trees
Where the angel of strength was the warden
And the soul of the world found ease.

During the lockdown people’s gardens have literally been a Godsend to them. A place to spend time, to create and to be close to God. Amen

  

Gleanings from a Glens Girl: Fairy cakes and juice

Gleanings from a Glens Girl: Fairy cakes and juice: Julie Manhan tells the story of a little boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed hi...

Fairy cakes and juice

Julie Manhan tells the story of a little boy who wanted to meet God.

He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with fairy cakes and Juice and started on his journey.

He’d not gone very far when he saw an elderly woman. She was sitting on a park bench watching the pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink of juice when he noticed the lady looked hungry so he offered her a fairy cake. She gratefully accepted and smiled at him.

Her smile was so wonderful that he wanted to see it again, so he offered her a juice as well. Once again she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling without saying a word.

As it began to grow dark, the boy realized how tired he was and wanted to go home. He got up to leave but before he had gone no more than a few steps, he turned around and ran back to the old woman, giving her a big hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy arrived home his Mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked, "What has made you so happy today?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." Before his mother could respond he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile in the whole world!"

The old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face. He asked, "Mother, what has made you so happy today?" She replied, "I ate fairy cakes in the park with God." And before her son could reply, she added, "You know, he is much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring; all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Both the young boy and the older woman found joy in that encounter.

What could be considered to be an ordinary, simple, everyday encounter.

But they found joy in it.

And they found joy in it because they found God in it!