She approached one on our team. She spoke no English and had what seemed an advanced case of Parkinson’s to our team member. She was accompanied by a small English speaking girl that introduced herself as, granddaughter, saying, her grandmother has Parkinson’s and the only comfort she had was walking. She had no place really to walk.
They noticed an ‘Oasis of Beauty ‘in the midst of what seemed like a lock-in with a curvy country road and not much of a yard and surely very little beauty there.
The inquiry from the little caring girl was, “would you allow my grandmother to walk on your long smooth driveway as she has no place to walk?” They didn’t know that team work had been going on for years to make beautiful gardens and paths to lead walkers to see and read tokens of God’s truth to be imparted to those that just happened to pass that way.
Permission was given with loving instructions to walk with care and enjoy their time on this holy path. Flowers are blooming, trees producing, chairs cleaned and padded for a moment of rest. Scripture messages painted on signs among other magical nature delights like birds singing and squirrels gathering and frogs just a croaking from a darling glistening pond.
The vision was given and building we did. I have often heard, “if you build it they will come.”
thedailylily.com 
Sara, thank you for sharing such a touching story. Your writing and descriptions sure paint a beautiful picture of God’s beauty, care and goodness.
Debi, thank you! Your words are kind and encouraging. Recently I have heard many stories by others about good deeds. This past week I heard about a Baptist SS class in Columbia, NC teaching on “kind deeds”. One lady said the very next day she drove in her driveway and found another couple had sprayed her tress for bag worms. This being something she was having trouble doing. She was reminded just how vital kind deeds are. She vowed to do more for others.
So often we receive good/kind deeds, which by the way shows the face of one’s faith, and yet fail to acknowledge faith. Many scriptures confirm this attribute and its affects.
Matthew 26:10 NIV acknowledges a good/kind deed that still touches hearts after 100’s of years, Jesus said…”She has done a beautiful thing to me.” Hey, remember she gave him a million dollars, a new boat, a new house! No, not at all she provided a moment of comfort. And, vs. 13, gives life rights honor to this woman. Her light of good deed still burns today.
I hope I have and will continue to received good/kind deeds and given good deeds in great care so others will see the face of faith. Yes, Debi, God does care for His sheep and He uses us to show His beauty in caring for one another.
In about account from Matthew 26 starting about vs 6 we find that not all were happy about the good deed or kind act of this woman. There was open objection to her yet the kindness won.
That’s an inspiring story, Sara, about the SS teaching and then the kind deed and how one deed sparked the recipient to want to do more.
I really like your phrase ‘face of one’s faith’. It reminds me of this scripture from Proverbs 27:19, “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.”
Both the couple that sprayed the trees and the lady in Matt. 26:10 sure illustrate this to me.
So touching to see that this little granddaughter was caring for her grandmother like this. What a blessing that this beautiful piece of land is available for them to stroll and admire, pray, or meditate on the beauty of God’s creation. 🙂
Tammy, I thought of your love and input for this little country place. And, it gave me thoughtful happy memories of you and your relationship with your grandmother and her love of countryside and farm living. She used her gift and faith to impart faith to you. It has to be a blessed little girl to have a grandmother walk, talk, teach and pray for the little hand that is safety locked in a withered hard working farm hand of an awesome lady that knew and lived, God first! What a blessed gift you have been giving.
Yes, Sara, a blessed gift my grandmother was to me. She always had an encouraging word about her Heavenly Father. ✝💜 I’m thankful there are other grandmothers out in the world today, trying to teach, live, and speak truth to the youth.🙏
I so agree. And, hopefully this will remind all of us to pause and give another a hand at all times. Grandmother or not we have good kind deeds to give.
In a devotion I read these words by Elin Ulmo Hunnes (Norway) “My mother was a teenager in Norway during World War II. She has told me what it was like to grow up in a country under siege. Among other things, she has mentioned how totally dark it was at night. Everyone had to darken their windows, and no streetlights were lit — to prevent enemy bombers from seeing their targets.” Our prayer focus from Elin”s devotion is “Prayer Focus: PEOPLE IN COUNTRIES AT WAR”…This brought to my mind the words of Jesus from Acts 1:8”the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere–in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Matthew Henry writes in response to this scripture, ‘It is enough that He has engaged to give believers strength equal to their trials and services; …”
My response to myself; “Bloom where you are planted.” This gives me great comfort and assurance of my little world if I just bloom by ” A path, a pond, nature, sounds…” God has perfect order! I just need to stay off wishful thinking path!
Sara, that small haven of peace and beauty….the garden of renown is reflective of the hymn ”It Is Well With My Soul”. The offerings of lovers of the Lord given there thru the years on that property that has belonged to saints of God for generations not only continues to bring beauty to those who tread the Scriptured paths but also to bring glory to the Living God. Indeed, when Peace like a river flows among the trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers there, it brings us closer to the God kind of peace, the world cannot give. What a sanctuary for those who yearn for more of the touch of God.
A blessing in the country indeed.
MG, I think we are about to get it, nature, animals and humans.