“The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it. She liked the name, and she liked still more the feeling that when its beautiful old walls shut her in no one knew where she was. It seemed almost like being shut out of the world in some fairy place. The few books she had read and liked had been fairy-story books, and she had read of secret gardens in some of the stories. Sometimes people went to sleep in them for a hundred years, which she had thought must be rather stupid. She had no intention of going to sleep, and, in fact, she was becoming wider awake every day which passed at Misselthwaite.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
The Secret of a Garden
When I first read Burnett’s The Secret Garden, I felt magic. Somehow, she takes a forgotten, overgrown, somewhat mysterious garden, places a little girl inside of it, and together, they find new life.
Gardens do that, don’t they? They invite us to come in and sit for a spell. They awaken our childhood senses. At least, they have that effect on me. Before I know it, I’m looking for Peter Rabbit and Timmy Tiptoes and Mr. McGregor. I know they are in here somewhere!
Wider Awake Every Day
Perhaps one of the most powerful sentences in the entire book is when the narrator shares that Mary “had no intention of going to sleep, and, in fact, she was becoming wider awake every day which passed at Misselthwaite.”
I know exactly how she feels.
Sometimes our path in life is strewn with hard times. We have all had to walk through some really tough places. Some last longer than others. Some are brief, yet bully us beyond belief. Some come in like a thief in the night. Some shake us to the core like a very unexpected earthquake.
But then, right when you think you could go to sleep for a hundred years, you realize…I don’t want to go to asleep for a hundred years. In fact, you realize you have no intention of going to sleep because you feel wider awake then ever.
That is how I felt yesterday.
I escaped to my very own secret garden (known to the rest of the public as Lavender Field Farms). Late Spring, Candace and I found this very special place. I felt as if God blew a little of his very special effervescent Eden dust all over the day.
Treat yourself and see Candace Rose’s beautiful sketch from our time at the farm.
Initially I went to learn more about how to grow lavender. While there, I saw a flyer for their Fall Festival and Herbal Wreath Making Class and decided that would be exactly the medicine I needed.
I was right. My friend, Gail and I, took a little Saturday morning road trip and indeed found ourselves more awake than ever.
Wandering and Weaving
For two and half hours, our wise teacher, Nicole, owner of the beloved farm, led us in wandering and weaving the most lovely herbal wreaths.
I highly recommend taking this class.
Secure a place today.
Watch Nicole in action!
Laughter, Love, and Lavender Ice Cream
I couldn’t stop smiling. The day held its own magic: the sun was shining, the bees were buzzing about, the plants and herbs were in full array, and women were learning and creating and laughing—and for a few minutes out of alot of minutes—forgetting everything else. That’s what I call a “wider awake every day” kind of day.
To top it all off, lunch was served by the sweetest, most hospitable young woman—who graciously attended and allowed us the space and freedom to indulge in life’s greatest gift—loving conversation and ice cream—lavender ice cream, of course.
May You Have a Wider-Awake-Every-Day-Kinda-Day This Week
Dear God,
I pray for my friend today.
May she have a wider-awake-every-day-kinda-day today.
It might be in a garden or at the beach or in a park or even in a quiet little corner in her home.
Somewhere, someway, send a little love and laughter her way.
Most of all, when she least expects it, shower her with a little of your very special effervescent Eden Dust.
The one that makes her smile til her smiler hurts.
Amen.