Tend the People in Your Garden

Friends and Family,
Sometimes you just have to think. We all have people in our lives who have loved us. They are not perfect, but they love us - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends. But have we truly loved them?

I look in my own life. My parents divorced and that was difficult. But they always remembered my children's birthdays and holidays. They sent cards with gifts and put a smile on those faces. On the other hand, I (as a grandma) am less consistent with sending cards. Most of my grandchildren live far away. Family splits have taken place and it is very difficult to stay connected. And yet, I do love them. But do they know it? And if my provision of monetary gifts is the only way that they will know me, is that the way that it should be? I don't think so. Relationships must be more than cards and gifts, but I guess that is at least a way to say "I care."

Let's look at my parents - Years and years of sending cards to grandchildren who barely acknowledge them in any way. My mother has Parkinson's disease. Is there not anyone to send her a card or call her? Do they even so much as know when her birthday is? I doubt it. My dad is 83 and still tries to be there for them all. Do any of his grandchildren even call to check up on him and see if he is ok? Do they tell him that they love him? Do they know his birthday?

These are very difficult issues to think through. All but one of my children are adults. Maybe I failed in some kind of way just trying to make it through each day. Maybe we don't stop and smell the roses as much as we should. God has put people in our lives for a season and we really need to cherish them more than the mundane routines that we find ourselves in on a daily, weekly, and yearly basis.

So, if you are reading this and it has touched your heart, give that person a call or send them a card. You know who they are as the Lord has showed you. I hope this helps someone's relationship.