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My Dear Friends,

As I write this letter at the start of Holy Week, I am enjoying the spring sunshine streaming through my window, and outside the garden is bursting into colour. After the beauty and purity of the brave snowdrops that emerged earlier in the year when it was much cooler, there is now a splash of lemon and peach tulips alongside cushions of pastel hyacinths, all seemingly blooming in anticipation of Easter. A search of the photos on my mobile phone reveals hundreds of gardens, some from different holidays at home and abroad, and others of our own garden in different seasons; some highly structured ornamental gardens and others untamed swathes of wildflowers seeding freely. This is all God’s creation, be it tiny gardens in window boxes or magnificent sweeping gardens at stately homes. There is something about a garden that touches the heart. Let me quote the words of a well-known verse by Dorothy Frances Gurney: ‘The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth; one is nearer God’s heart in a garden, than anywhere else on earth.’     

As I reflect on the beauty and serenity of my own garden, I am mindful of three biblical gardens. All of these point to the events of Easter and to the joy and hope we have in Jesus.

The Garden of Eden in Genesis is where Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan and their close relationship with God was broken. This is when sin came into the world resulting in our need for redemption. This Holy week we remember that through Jesus’ death and resurrection our sins have been paid for, and we can have a restored personal relationship with God and can ‘Approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.’ Hebrews 4:16

The Garden of Gethsemane is the scene of Jesus’ agony and sorrow about what lay ahead; a garden where we can only imagine the intensity of Jesus’ prayer as he called out three times: ‘Father, if it’s possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine.’ Matthew 26: 39. Sometimes we may have similar feelings, but we need to remember that God sees the full picture. His plans are the best and He is always with us. ‘For I know the plans I have for you’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29: 11

Finally, I come to the scene in the cool of the Easter morning when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the garden and found the empty tomb. Here their grief was turned to joy when Jesus greeted them. This is the garden of victory where we learn that Jesus was alive, as still He is today!

So, as I gaze out on my garden, first I acknowledge my own need for salvation. Secondly, I stand on the promise that God’s plans are perfect, and thirdly, I rejoice in the joyous Easter message. Jesus overcame death and He shows us that with His help we too can overcome seemingly impossible situations.  Pope Francis once stated: ‘There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter’. As we celebrate Easter as ‘Resurrection People’, let us carry that enduring Easter joy with us every day. My hope for Mothers’ Union is that we will reach out in His name, share the good news that we are infinitely loved, and follow Jesus’ example, reaching out in love and compassion into our parishes, communities and further afield. Let us constantly seek to tend our ‘Mothers’ Union garden’ in order to live fruitfully to the glory of God.