"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." So it has been said and I know it to be true. It is how one looks at the simple beauty in almost everything around us. There is so much, I fear I sometimes take it for granted, however, when I look with my spiritual eyes, I am in awe.

I am able to find Creator's beauty everywhere, in every season. I pray that I always will cherish the bountiful blessings that are freely given to us by the Creator.

During the summer, my heart overflows with blessings for my "full of life" outdoor plants, and everyone else's, as I take my morning and evening walks.

One day, a friend posted this on my Facebook page knowing I needed something to cheer me up at that particular time.

'GARDENING IS GREAT THERAPY ...&...YOU GET TOMATO PLANTS!'

I gave it some thought and realized how true that quote was for me. Nothing sets my mood back to a relaxed tranquil place as when I am tending my plants. I have the quietness I need for praying. The longer I spend gardening, the more prayers I send up. The more of that, I do, the better I feel myself. The Creator is faithful and meets us right where we are!

When my garden plot has been maxed out, I begin filling other places with my extra veggie plants. I don't see why I cannot have beautiful tomatoes in with the flowers. I have become quite the 'multicultural' gardener and I love every plant and flower in my yard. I would never turn a single one away because there wasn't any room left or there wasn't an 'exact' spot for it. "Just set another place at the dinner table," were my mother's words whenever an 'extra' showed up at our house at mealtime. She was the best 'multitasking' little prayer warrior and teacher, I've ever known. Therefore, in my own garden, red peppers look adorably bright and compatible with my vivid green coleus. A tomato plant or two show themselves proudly with Gerber Daisies. Colorful beet leaves are a natural contrast with any green foliage. Green and yellow beans are energetically climbing the wall right along with purple Morning Glories. Sunflowers are the colorful border that stand on duty, all around my yard. Birds love me.

The important thing is that everyone is welcome in my garden. It's like Gardener's Church! Right in my own sanctuary. A yard filled with mature shade trees, perennials, flowers and vegetables of all colors and purposes. "Gardener's Church!" I love the sound of it. A wonderful mixture of backgrounds, colors, each contributing their own gifts, gathered together.

It is a lot like the way we live, socialize, and enjoy our worship. We may have all originated from different places, but we have chosen to join together as neighbors, work mates or have come to a place to worship, grow, flourish and harvest more seeds of salvation.

We may be from different backgrounds, not even speak the same language, and it shouldn't matter. To the Creator, we are all children. We are important, we are loved and accounted for. Amen? The simplicity of the Creator's Good News.

In order for that growth to make us more fruitful, we require nourishment and the light of salvation in our soul. Creator calls us to come out of the dark and to allow ourselves to be fed.

Let the Comforter heal our wounds so that we can be whole once more and grow strong in the light of His love. Creator has given us special gifts of the Spirit. Although we are created in Creator's image, we are still individual and unique. There are no two of us exactly the same.

If we entered the Creator's garden, we would never be turned away due to lack of space or told that we didn't blend in. We are never in the 'wrong' category.

"Sorry, but the green pepper row is already filled. Come back next spring!"

There is ALWAYS room for one more in my Gardener's Church and wherever Creator is, there is a place for you and me. Never, will you be turned away.

My friend is right. Gardening is great therapy. I will thank her again when I hand her a basket of fresh tomatoes!

Wishing you many Blessings for this joyous season of Summer.