Families need time together to function at their best and to feel close and connected. Sometimes, because life moves at such a rapid pace, we end up trying to fit all those moments into holidays and vacations. But deep down we know we need more. We need connection with each other and with God every day to be our best. How to do that in this chaotic world is something that our family, in conjunction with the Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life, has been studying and developing for the last few years. As part of that work we have pinpointed 4 points of connection that help families be their best when practiced every day. They are working, talking, playing, and praying together, doing each for at least a few minutes every day.
This summer I have seen that our simple Mary garden has been one thing that has helped our family find moments of connection in all these areas, and I must admit it has surprised me a bit.
My husband and I have never been big into gardening, and even when we’ve worked up our enthusiasm to try, our attempts have mostly met with pathetic failure. But a while ago my family gifted me with a beautiful statute of Our Lady. I immediately knew I wanted her placed in the foundation garden of our house so that anyone walking up to the door could see her. But that garden had never thrived. Wanting to create a space that would be a more worthy surrounding for her image, we got some help to transplant the plants that had been there, and instead fill the garden surrounding our statue with rose bushes, taking our inspiration from Mary’s title of Mystical Rose.
We have since spent many lovely evenings feeding, watering, and pruning the roses while we chat about our day, and sometimes have deeper conversations as we go about the tasks together, and we marvel at how beautifully the garden is flourishing since Mary’s statue has been there.
Sometimes, when the evening weather is inviting, we get motivated to stay outside and go biking or walking together.
Any time we go and return to our home, Mary’s statue is there to remind us to pause, pray, and to slow down, and recenter our hearts on Jesus.
Our family has been so blessed by the moments of connection our Mary garden has inspired, that now we have been inspired to bring a bit of that indoors by getting a small table top statue of Our Lady and arranging some potted tea roses around it on a table in our living room where we usually gather for prayer in the evening. I know we will enjoy the living beauty and grace of this space especially during the cold winter months.
Moments of delight, and connection to God and each other help to strengthen families emotionally and spiritually. A Mary Garden, no matter how big or small, is an intentional way to give those moments to ourselves and our family.
- The second annual Mary Garden contest is sponsored by the Museum of Family Prayer. Hurry! Photo entries are due by July 26, 2021. Prizes will be awarded. Helpful information and inspiration will be added to the contest webpage throughout the contest.
