Not everyone has the brilliance and budget to develop a Giverny 
(or maybe no one), but just a few days after we’d returned home from Europe, 
Daniel and Brianna had us over for dinner, and then
—knowing how much I love gardens—
they took us to see a beautiful garden in their neighborhood. 
This amazing garden has over 1,000 hostas growing, 
plus dozens of flowering perennials that can tolerate shade. 
I was totally surprised (but delighted), 
because we’ve walked through the neighborhood many a time, 
strolling Baby Samuel after dinner, 
and none of us had never noticed this hidden treasure before!
(Of course, it is in their neighbors’ back yard.) 
Apparently our kids’ next-door-neighbors knew about it and invited Dan and Brianna to view the gardens…who in turn invited us, because—as it turns out— 
the couple who owns the garden
are very willing to share all the beauty they’ve created! 
It was like visiting a lovingly tended botanical garden! 
Each type of hosta was neatly labeled, and everywhere we turned 
there was something to delight our eyes. 
It was obviously designed with their grandchildren in mind too, 
because there were lots of playful touches. 
The lady of the home toured us around 
and was super gracious about discussing the plants, 
happily dispensing tips on how to care for shade-loving species 
and even answering questions about how to attract and care for hummingbirds! 
I stood in awe of her willingness to share the fruit of all her hard work 
and wisdom with total strangers! 
To keep the garden free of weeds,
they literally go through on their hands and knees weeding! 
When we returned home, Dan and Brianna’s next-door-neighbor was up on a ladder repairing something, and he filled in the details. 
Apparently the owners of the hidden hosta garden started their work
20 years ago when their daughter was graduating from high school. 
The family had tall trees in their big backyard, and between the children
and the trees, the grass just couldn’t thrive in the shade, 
leaving the area pretty bleak and muddy (which is obviously no longer true!).
In order to have a beautiful setting for their daughter’s graduation party, 
they planted some hostas…and one thing led to another. 
“Quite the love story!” the neighbor reflected. Indeed! 
And, one that I’ve thought a lot about this past week. 
Imagine if every believer cleaned up the mud and mess in the backyards of our lives so that our kids would be glad to have their friends over. 
Imagine searching through our lives as couples on our knees, rooting out sins!
Imagine having such beautiful lives 
that neighbors notice and tell other neighbors and bring them over to visit!
Imagine being that open to having people just drop in out of the blue, 
and being willing to share the fruit of our spiritual lives…of being willing to take time to explain what we’ve learned and “how to” grow in grace. 
Wow. Have I ever got a long way to go! 
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).
