A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of again visiting Mrs. Davis (of Mrs. Davis Garden) as she had called me for a landscape consultation regarding her boxwood. It was my initial visit with Mrs. Davis and seeing her beautiful boxwood gardens and her passion and love for them that inspired the song on my CD, ‘Gardening Therapy‘, Mrs. Davis Garden. In fact the Lord gave the tune and many of the words as I drove home form her house that day.
It was a windy, cold day on this recent visit to her lovely home, but the warm reception from her and her gracious daughter-in-law made me forget all about that. They welcomed me with hugs and kisses and couldnt stop thanking me for the CD and telling me how much they loved it. I noticed it lay displayed on a coffee table between them. Mrs. Davis said to me that her grandson, a music major at Drew University, had been listening to it and playing along with his guitar. How honored, I told her, I felt by that. As we conversed, I discovered that Mrs. Davis was quite an artist. Her beautiful paintings hung on the walls all around us in the cheery parlor. She commented that she had no musical talents like other members of her family but she did possess the gift of art
Her expression became very serious then as she relayed the boxwood tragedy that had occurred last summer. This is why she had called for me to come. She had been out on the side porch with her son and grandson where they often ate their dinner. They felt to go inside. Moments later a terrible downwind from a surrounding storm ripped through the yard taking down two huge pecan trees that were over one hundred years old. They heard a terrible crash. The windows on that side of the house were darkened (but amazingly not broken!) by the branches and leaves from the fallen trees. To their horror the trees had fallen on the side porch and leveled it to the ground. (This was the very porch where nearly two years earlier I had sat with her neighbors and friends to discuss boxwood.) Miraculously all had escaped unharmed because they had felt to come back in the house moments earlier. Her daughter-in-law said the angels must have been there. Oh, I said! That was Gods grace that you escaped unharmed. Mrs. Davis then said to me that maybe I should write a song about grace.
Mrs. Davis bundled up in her scarf and coat and stoically ventured out into the cold wind to view the boxwood damage from this event. As we walked around the house and gardens, she relayed the events of that horrific day and pointed to each damaged survivor lamenting over their deformities. Her daughter-in-law quoted verses from Mrs. Daviss Garden regarding the boxwood, saying such things as there are the battle scars from the storms you sang about. It was sad to see the damaged boxwood but Mrs. Davis had acted quickly like a faithful Florence Nightingale, though she admitted unknowingly. She had propped up broken branches with wooden slats and her quick reactions had proven effective. The scars were already starting to mend just like skin grafts. After finishing the inspection, I assured her that it was not as bad a tragedy as it could have been. The brave boxwood were already showing signs of new growth and one of her hospital patients ( a rescue boxwood that she had transplanted and saved) in the lower hospital garden would do nicely as replacement for one of the two that just didnt survive the battle. We ended the visit on a hopeful note and each felt happy and comforted that the beautiful boxwood gardens had endured a storm. Who would have known that a song that the Lord gave me over a year prior to this storm would have proven to be so true.
see Gardening Therapy on this site to order your copy…Violets are Forever, Is There a Fish in Your Pond, and How Do You Hold the Wind, inspired by people (many from the Daily Lily) are among some of the other favorites on this CD
Please visit us this week for my our yearly flower and garden sale Wednesday through Friday with the students of my horticulture classes. We have a beautiful garden display for you to make your garden a garden of renown. We also have fish, snails, pottery and other assorted items as well as cookies and punch daily to welcome you for a chat about your garden. Hope to see you!
thedailylily.com 
What a heart-touching story! How God emits grace to those who honor HIM each day all they do. Thank you, Debi, for sharing this lovely episode. This recounting also tells how important it is to be able to discern what Holy Spirit is saying to us, at all times. I thank GOD that He sheltered Mrs. Davis and her young men from an even greater disaster. God bless Mrs. Davis, her family and her boxwoods.
I am excited about the PLANT SALE at MTC in Leesburg and looking forward to choosing specialities for my home.
Again, this story reminds me of Psalm 91, “He who dwells in the secret place of the MOST HIGH shall abide under the shadow of the ALMIGHTY…for He will command His angels concerning yu to guard you in all yours of service and obedience…A thousand may fall (or even huge trees) at your right hand or at your right side but it shall not come near you. My angels will lift you up in their hands. Because you love Me, says the Lord, I will rescue you and protect you….and with long life will I satisy you and show you MY salvation,”
I pray that for Mrs. Davis, her family and her boxwood garden!!
Debi,
I like this story. In life, we have storms to endure as well, but thanks be to God, we have a “Florence Nightingale” to come to our rescue. His name is Jesus. Read with me the following verses from the book of Luke, chapter 8:22-25 ” One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and started out. As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting,’Master, Master, we’re going to drown! When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. The storm stopped and all was calm! Then he asked them, ‘Where is your faith?’ The disciples were terrified and amazed. Who is this man? they asked each other. When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”` (footnotes)”When caught in the storms of life, it is easy to think that God has lost control and that we’re at the mercy of the winds of fate. In reality, God is sovereign. He controls the history of the world as well as our personal destiny. Just as Jesus calmed the waves, he can calm whatever storms you may face.” Thank you, Debi for sharing this story about Mrs. Davis and her boxwood tragedy.
Thank you Needles for sharing these scriptures and comments and exhortation to put our trust in the Lord and understand God’s wonderful sovereignty in our lives and to understand the imporatnce of faith in the One who stilled the water. “In You, oh Lord I put My trust; let me never be put to shame.” Ps 71:1
I have one of your CDs and I love that song Does your boxwood grow like Mrs.Davis’…and after hearing this wonderful testimony..we should love to have our boxwoods, should we have any, to grow like hers…hers have weathered the storm….and there is only strength when one can makes it throught the storm and is victorious….and I think of the grandson who listens and plays with the cd…the strength of the songs that have the Word in them and the strength of knowing just what those boxwoods went through and they made it, so can he make it ….God takes care of His own….dj
Thank You Merciful God, that we have a Shepherd to feed, guide and shield us. Chickenfarmer brought this to our attention in the blog “Deliver us from Evil.” After reading Needles comment I was once again reminded of our Shepherd, and His name is Jesus. Check out the footnotes below from the Ampl. WOW, what an encouraging thought…
Psalm 23 A Psalm of David.
1THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.(A)
3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
4Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
6Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
Footnotes:
Psalm 23:5 It is difficult for those living in a temperate climate to appreciate, but it was customary in hot climates to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration. When mixed with perfume, the oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a matter of course before running a race. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated, and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His “sheep” with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in His service and run in the way He directs–in heavenly fellowship with Him.
SPEAKING OF GARDENS, THE PLANT SALE AT DEBI’S HORTICULTURAL SCHOOL FACILITY WAS EXCELLENT IN SCOPE AND VARIETY. I SAW SOME LOVELY THINGS, THERE. It makes one’s heart race and then bow in worship to the Living God Who has created this wondrous profusion of living loveliness, buds and blooms and blossoms and foliage of all colors and descriptions.
Violets!! Who else could have thougnt up violet? Only the Lord our Creator.
What a mighty God we serve ! Good show, Debi! Thank you.
Debi,
I love this story about the boxwood garden. I was listening to your CD. What an awesome CD. God is with us during the storms. When the wind is blowing so hard you can hardly stand, when the rain is coming down so hard you can hardly see, and when the trees crash down to the earth with such force that it could be heard a mile away, God is there holding our hand. He is the peace before, during, and after the storm. He will be beside us always and he loves us. All we have to do is to stay focus on our Lord. We would never really appreciate the calm without the storms. Thank you Lord for Debi, her awesome talents, and Mrs. Davis and her boxwood gardens.
Chickenfarmer, your words of encouragemnent to stay focused remind me of Paul’s attitude towards his storms and how he stayed focused…”but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:13,14).