The Open Garden Gate
The garden gate stood open wide inviting me to come in.
Shall I accept the invitation and stroll inside?
There is beauty, quiet and peace awaiting me there.
My soul longs for respite from the cares of the world.
My body is tired and needing rest from my toils.
The beauty I see as I peer inside the open gate
speaks to me.
Why do I hesitate to enter the garden?
Why do I cling to what is familiar
even though it is troublesome?
I hesitate because the familiar is comforting
and the unknown, frightening.
The open gate continues to tug at my heart
to come inside the garden.
There are promises of beauty, peace
and quiet for my troubled soul.
I think I shall enter and see what I find.
I entered the gate and strolled along the garden path.
The exquisite beauty of the flowers was awesome
The flowers' sweet perfume filled the air
awakening a sense of delight in my soul.
Wandering farther into the garden I found a quiet place
and rested on a garden bench.
While sitting there I looked around
and found I was alone.
Peace eased into my spirit
as I sensed the presence of the Lord.
I opened my heart while sitting there
in the cool of the evening.
Forgetting the troubles of my life brought relief.
I breathed a prayer of thanksgiving and arose
With renewed hope for a closer walk with my Lord.
Jane Ward Smith
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