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Parable of the Lawn by Lorraine Aho  There was a man, wealthy in gifts, but not gold. He stood before the dying, brown lawn in the front of his dwelling place and felt ashamed. Surely, he thought, his was the most accursed grass in the kingdom, and in a land where people are judged by their lawns, he thought his was the most accursed soul."I have no gold with which to replace it with a shiny new green lawn", he sighed. "What can I do with the gifts that I do have?" The man borrowed tools from helpful people who wished him to succeed. He took the few coins he had and purchased seed and fertilizer. He researched and read and became learned in the ways of grass. The growing and the keeping, the seasons and the cycles - these also became his friends. Every morning the man peered closely at the dirt, waiting for signs of life. There came a dreadful moment when, his money spent, and his back aching, he looked upon his hard work and realized that nothing had happened. His neighbors peeked out at him, standing over the brown dirt that he had worked, and felt sorry for him. "Nothing will grow, nothing could grow, why did I waste my time?" the man asked himself despondently. "Behold, the soil is clay, the seeds cannot take root, nothing will ever grow in this barren wasteland. Why did I even try?" But, in his despair, he did not hear the Lord whisper, "Good things take time and build slowly. Have patience and faith that I have not deserted you, my child. For I love you and will reward your hard work." Without even knowing why, the man kept his watering and tending of his lawn and still a tiny, tiny flame of hope burned within him. Then, one glorious day (not too long after), he thought he saw a tiny infant blade of grass poking its sharp green head through the dirt. As he looked, he saw another and another, and every day there were more until one day when he stepped from his dwelling place, he realized that his was the most beautiful lawn in the kingdom. It happened not overnight, but little by little and inch by inch. Finally the day came when a nearby dweller, who had previously been proud of his lovely lawn, came over to compliment the man on his lawn and ask for advice for his own. The man realized that God had always been there, looking over his shoulder, gently nudging in the right direction and working everything out for good in His time. Have faith, and never give up, for I am with you always. 
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