Orchard Of Heaven

Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
Song of Solomon 4:1

My younger son, Lance, and I walk out to the back of the house to the orchard one Sunday afternoon.

As we walk, so many memories come back to me. We planted apple, pear, and peach trees in the orchard.

More husband enjoyed walking out there everyday, and sometimes the boys walked with us.

He was a big teaser. He always teased the boys about how the trees were growing. "We'll soon have fruit on them," he picked. Well, being impatient little boys, they checked everyday. After checking everyday, they realized the trees would have to get along bigger before they bore fruit. So they learned that trees have to be taken care, and that it takes time, quite a bit of time, especially, to a 9 and 11 year old to mature. In time, the trees began to bear fruit.

My husband enjoyed going to the orchard to reflect and pray. He also enjoyed sharing his fruit with others. One tree in particular he called a Myrtle tree. He called it that after my mother's love for June apples. My mother was always informed first when the tree was ready for picking. He would gather her up a basket so she could make her famous apple preserves, right behind her famous pear preserves.

My father loved to eat the bounty my husband brought as gifts. Always this was a special time for my family to share in a harvest.

But as time went on I lost my mother, then father, and then my husband. Though they are gone, the orchard trees they loved still stand, and every season they bear fruit. I like to walk the old orchard paths and reminiscence. Walking the old paths gives me the assurance of where they are now. My boys, daughter in law, and grandchildren and I will walk with them again, on a celestial path, beside the crystal sea that feeds the orchard of heaven.

by

Louise Gargus