In the warmth of the sun but the cool of the wind, I was cleaning my flower bed. Crouched down near the freshly emerging plants, I swept corn husks from every corner and from under every plant. I peeked under the mulch where I knew hostas had been, excited to see their tiny green spears about to thrust into the light. I watched the bleeding hearts bob and dance in the wind, cheerful to just be there. As I meandered through the flowers, pulling grass I found my Jacob’s Ladder blooming and softly said, well hello there!
I realized there in the garden that I’ve turned into my mom. Putzing in the garden, talking to the plants, enjoying every moment.
Taking time to slow down is not in my nature. I’m all German…we walk fast, work fast, push others to move fast. It can be really helpful in many ways. But I’m learning (slowly) to slow down. To just be in the moment and enjoy it.
The kids and I “finished” school about 10 days ago. I decided, we’ve done enough for the season and it’s time for a new season. There have been many years where I’ve attempted to push through more bookwork while at the same time starting the garden and doing all the outside projects spring brings. But this year I’ve felt so overwhelmed so frequently that I knew I needed to do something different.
The beauty of homeschooling is that we can slow down, we can set aside books for other things. We get to choose how we teach our kids. School is honestly never really finished in our home. We just teach in different ways in different seasons. My kids learn more from gardening than from their books. They can identify plants, bugs, soil needs. They know when produce is ripe and how to pick it. They know how to prepare it for a delicious meal too!
Choosing to slow down and not do so much allows all of us time to process and think. It allows what we’ve learned to be mulled over and moved to long term memory. And it gives us time to breathe and see God in the midst of our days.
I’m not good at slowing down. I often feel rushed even when I’m sitting, reading a book. But I’m trying hard to push past that and slow. If you don’t have a garden, plant one! Everyone needs to put their hands in the dirt and watch things grow. Everyone should tarry over the flowers and sit in awe at things growing. A friend recently told me, “plants just want to grow; they were created to grow and they want to.” It’s so simple and yet so profound.
So, since spring is here, set aside the books and get outside. Show your kids the flowers, breathe the fresh air, watch the leaves emerge from the trees. And thank God for growth, spring, beauty, warmth, and that He created things to grow! Including us!
Desired Haven Farm 