Watermelon, cantaloupes, and cucumber harvested from my garden
My first watermelon and cantaloupe harvest of the year was amazing! When I carried everything inside, I found myself dancing.
Of course, I almost always wear my earphones in the garden
because I make a few moves while planting, digging, weeding, fertilizing, or
bugging. But this dance was different. This one was special.
If you had seen me, you might have wondered, ‘What is wrong
with her? It is only watermelon and cantaloupe.’
But it was about much
more than the fruit. I had planted something I did not have much experience
growing. Then I watched those plants withstand two really bad hailstorms,
recover, keep growing, and eventually produce fruit that I could bring inside
and enjoy.
There was the planting.
Then came the hailstorms. Starting over. Watering. Bugs. Waiting patiently.
Hoping. And finally, the harvest.
Every fruit carried a little history. I could see the
weather it had survived, the vines that refused to quit, and the hours of care
that had gone into keeping the plants alive. By the time I held that harvest in
my hands, dancing felt like the only reasonable response!
Sometimes people see
only the finished fruit. They do not see the storms, the damaged leaves, the
replanting, the waiting, or all the quiet work that came before it. But when
you know what a harvest survived, even a watermelon can feel like a testimony.
‘He has made everything
beautiful in its time’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11). That day, beauty looked like
watermelon, cantaloupe, earphones in my ears, and dance moves I simply couldn't
hold back.
When you know what a harvest survived, even a watermelon can feel like a testimony and absolutely deserve a dance.
Chidi - counselor, gardener,
storyteller, and lifelong student of the lessons hidden in ordinary moments.
Garden & Reflections offers a glimpse into the experiences
and everyday lessons that shape me beyond the therapy room. These personal
reflections are shared thoughtfully while honoring the professional boundaries
of the counseling relationship.