The Garden Inside Me

Let us close our eyes... and breathe in slowly. And out.

Now I look inside, to a quiet place near my heart. There is a little garden here. It is small and green and safe. Soft light falls on it, warm like the morning sun.

In the middle of the garden, there is one tiny plant. It has two small leaves. That little plant is you. You are my flower.

Every day, I come to this garden. I carry a small brass lota of water. I pour it slowly at the roots. Glug, glug, glug... the soil drinks it in.

A little water, a little love... and our flower grows.

I also pull out the weeds, gently. A worry here. A busy thought there. I lift them out and set them aside. Now there is more room for you to grow.

Some days, the sun is bright. I open the gate and let the light in. Some days, the sky is grey. On those days, I sit close and hum a soft song. Even on quiet, grey days, our flower grows.

Today, I look closely. There is a new leaf! Small and bright. Yesterday, it was not there. Tomorrow, maybe there will be one more.

A yellow butterfly comes to visit. It flutters around, soft and slow. A bee hums a sleepy tune. The breeze moves the leaves... swish... swish. Everything in this garden is gentle.

I do not pull the plant to make it grow faster. I do not rush. I only water, and wait, and love. The flower knows how to grow. I only have to care.

Some evenings, I sit by our little plant in the moonlight. I tell you about my day. I tell you about Papa and our family, and the big world waiting outside. The leaves seem to listen.

A little water, a little love... and our flower grows.

Now, let us breathe again. In... and out. Let us feel this garden, warm and calm inside. One day, this little flower will open wide in the sunshine. And I will be right there, smiling.

Until then... I will water. I will wait. I will love.