You may have heard the story of the daffodils in one form or another, and how the beauty of the garden holds a lesson to be learned. It's definitely worth repeating--let me tell it to you my way...
In 1958, (Alma) Gene and Dale Bauer started planting a garden of daffodils, planting them one by one by one… throughout the years. Today the daffodil garden in Running Springs, California is said to be the largest daffodil garden in the world. One look at the magnificent hillside immediately draws you in.
This mountain hillside, which was once a wilderness of poor rocky soil is now drenched with daffodils. A breath-taking experience to the tourists it draws.
The countless daffodils reflect care, as stewards of God’s creation, labor in the land they’ve been given. Man and woman, side by side. But the unmistakable miracle we see—made by the hands of only two—is that perseverance yields fruit to those who are trained by it.
Gene Bauer planted the first 48 bulbs in 1958, describing her persistence by saying, “One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet and a body minus a brain." In forty years she's planted close to a million bulbs!
The daffodil garden illustrates the God given potential that each one of us holds when we plant seeds one by one. Seeds of discipline, love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control—seeds that will blossom in our garden one day, a breath-taking garden that draws others to Christ.
In 1988, my husband and I planted a garden when we stood at the alter, saying, "I do."
It's been 24 years of planting one bulb at a time. Nothing too big, just one bloom here and there among countless flowers.
One prayer at a time, one day at a time, one understanding and patient moment at a time… precious blooms in the garden of marriage.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ~ Galatians 6:9
You are loved by an almighty God,
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