This is such a beautiful reflection — and the garden metaphor lands so perfectly for me right now. Our entire family is in the middle of converting to the Catholic Church, and our three boys are working their way through reconciliation and toward their first communion. Just today, one of my strong-willed twins worked his way through a practice tasting in formation class, and I sat there quietly proud in a way I couldn't quite explain.
Your line about your daughter's second confession — none of the excitement and glamour of the first — made me laugh out loud, because I am already bracing for exactly that with my boys. And your image of stepping back into the garden after a month of neglect and finding it overrun again — that's the most honest picture of the spiritual life I've read in a long time. The weeding is never done. I needed to hear that not as discouragement but as permission — this is just what the garden requires.
We are so new to all of this, still finding our footing in the sacraments, still figuring out what faithful daily life looks like for a family like ours. But your reminder that the Master Gardener expects to find weeds — and still sees the beauty — is exactly the grace I needed today. Thank you for writing this.
Thank you, Sharon, for taking the time to reach out and share. What a blessing to me today! And welcome to the Church. We are blessed to have you. Prayers for your preparations and reception.
This is such a beautiful reflection — and the garden metaphor lands so perfectly for me right now. Our entire family is in the middle of converting to the Catholic Church, and our three boys are working their way through reconciliation and toward their first communion. Just today, one of my strong-willed twins worked his way through a practice tasting in formation class, and I sat there quietly proud in a way I couldn't quite explain.
Your line about your daughter's second confession — none of the excitement and glamour of the first — made me laugh out loud, because I am already bracing for exactly that with my boys. And your image of stepping back into the garden after a month of neglect and finding it overrun again — that's the most honest picture of the spiritual life I've read in a long time. The weeding is never done. I needed to hear that not as discouragement but as permission — this is just what the garden requires.
We are so new to all of this, still finding our footing in the sacraments, still figuring out what faithful daily life looks like for a family like ours. But your reminder that the Master Gardener expects to find weeds — and still sees the beauty — is exactly the grace I needed today. Thank you for writing this.
Thank you, Sharon, for taking the time to reach out and share. What a blessing to me today! And welcome to the Church. We are blessed to have you. Prayers for your preparations and reception.