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The Desires of My Heart

January 4, 2007 By Marta Darby 4 Comments

Potofviolets_2I love violets.
The scent from the tiny flowers always amazes me.
It probably has to do with my Cuban childhood.  As I said in an earlier post, "all Cuban babies smell like violets."

My mom has a patch of violets growing along the side of her house and she brought me a pot full of them two years ago.

And they make me so happy.

I keep thinking I will plant the violets on the side of my house, but I have not done anything about it.  Well, that’s not entirely true.  I had Eric clear a space, but have not actually done any of the real work of turning the soil and preparing it, etc. 
That patch of cleared soil is a great metaphor for my new year’s intentions and resolutions.
I have a big, long list of excuses, too.  Last winter was too wet. Last summer it was too hot. My knees start to ache if I have to kneel for a long time.  I have lots of other things that always seem to be more important and need my attention.  So, I am embarrassed to admit that I have neglected my garden. And no, I have not gotten around to planting the violets.

So, yesterday I’m out in the garden making mental notes:

  • It’s time to prune the roses. 
  • The soil needs to be prepared to plant the sweet peas for an early spring bloom
  • I should really commit to planting those violets…..

Imagine my surprise when I look over to the cleared, but still rough patch along the side of the house and find this:
P1039576
Those are violets!
Violets I did not plant.
Clear across the garden from my potted ones.

It is a miracle.
It is a gift.
It’s just like God to surprise me like this and remind me that He knows the desires of my heart.

Yes, I cried.

I will not be making resolutions for this new year.
I will be making my desires known to God.
That’s a much better plan, I think.
He’s so much better at following through. 😉

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." – Psalm 37:4

You might also like:

Getting My Hands Dirty The Lazy Cuban Girl’s Guide To Gardening Learning to say “I love you” Speaking of Cuban heart-throbs…

Filed Under: Garden

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    January 4, 2007 at 2:21 pm

    THAT made me cry. Sooooo beautiful!

    Reply
  2. Amy says

    January 4, 2007 at 3:31 pm

    WOAH!! THAT’S SO COOL! What a great “God story”!

    Reply
  3. alysa giorgetti says

    January 6, 2007 at 6:19 pm

    I love it when God does that.Isn’t that interesting, I just wrote on a card on the occaision of Rein’s completion of Art school the prayer and hope that God would give him the desires of his heart. The “picture” of the flowers is such a wonderful inspiration. He does desire to give us the desires of our hearts. Thank you for sharing your life. Lys

    Reply
  4. keb says

    January 15, 2007 at 7:25 pm

    bee-yew-tiful, thx pal. Since my Built-In Forgetter is always operative, this type of e.g. re God’s sweet generosity & longing to bless us is right on time. As Mr Lewis liked to say, we need to be reminded more than we need to be instructed…

    Reply

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