I know the tenth commandment says we should not desire anything that belongs to our neighbor, but I come pretty close to breaking this one when I look around my neighbor’s lovely garden. We have lived next door to each other for thirty-seven years. We have shared plants, ideas, weeds, and especially friendship throughout that time. So, with her permission, I’d like to show you around a little bit. I was going to do a quick six collage, but I couldn’t decide what to leave out. So, Pam, I’m showing more than six today.

We share some plants in common, but although mere yards apart, our gardens are very different.

Her artistic style is evident from the rustic picket fence out front, around the side yard, into her back garden, and on her porches.

I love the interest provided by the architectural features she adds here and there.

She has created a welcoming habitat for birds and God’s other creatures, including humans.

The view from her back porch overlooks a shady, peaceful setting with many ferns, flowers, and pathways. It also provides nooks and crannies for her quiver-full of grandchildren to play, dream, and imagine.

When I went through a long phase of abandoning my garden, I didn’t even want to go out of my backdoor and look at it. Those years of neglect created quite an overgrown mess. The weeds flourished, and the woods reclaimed what was once its territory. One day this neighbor and I were talking about it, and she said, “Dottie, I’ve been praying that you would start to love your garden again.” Those words went straight into my heart. And the Lord answered her prayer, as I also made it mine. What a good neighbor!

Still, I was overwhelmed by the task of bringing my garden back to life. At about that same time, another neighbor stepped in and conquered the encroaching forest so that I could find my garden again. My paths, plants, and other features re-emerged after several weeks’ work.

I’m so grateful for these neighbors who cared.

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” –Luke 10:27

Have a wonderful week, everyone.

Shalom, Dottie