God's 'secret garden' is a beautiful story

Years ago, I drove from Priest River to Alaska with a friend and, along the 2600-mile journey, I read aloud to her children the story of “The Secret Garden.” That friend of 40 years and her husband just visited last week. Pure joy to see them. I realized Terry and I can't make these long friendships anymore. In forty years, we would be well over 100. 

Being in Holy Week — with Easter this Sunday — I'm thinking about my lifelong friendship with Jesus — and another “secret garden.” Jesus came to our world as Son of God — but also Son of Man. He had friends, just like everybody else.   

God created human beings in His image because He wanted our company. He enjoys a relationship — a friendship — with us. Jesus came to make that known. 

What I'm naming the “secret garden” is called — in the Bible — the “fruit of the Spirit.” As His crucifixion drew near Jesus told His friends it was good that He was “going away.” Without His physical “God presence” on earth, He would send the Holy Spirit — the “God presence” who would fill each one who chooses to love and follow Jesus. 

One way I can recognize the presence of the Spirit in me is by His fruit in my life — “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self — control.”  Hopefully this inner garden fruit shows itself — although there are days.  

Jesus was filled with such fruit and people sought Him wherever He went because they were hungry for what He offered. They did not expect what happened next. When He gave His life on the cross there wasn't a person of the time who didn't think it was over. 

His suffering — remembered this week — is extremely hard for me to contemplate — because I believe every bit of the story. One thing helps me — a fruit unique to Him. The Bible says that Jesus saw the “fruit of the travail of His soul and was satisfied.” He saw ahead to people like me — and all those others — whose lives would be transformed through what He did for us. Forgiven from sin, and free to live a God honoring life — restored to a friendship with God — the way I was created to be. 

It's a beautiful story — all the way to Jesus' resurrection — which He also promises me. What joy to be found in the garden of God!