20 January 2021

We moved into our existing house about nine months ago. A house that is 20 odd years old and has very low maintenance needed on the property which suited both Bruce and me. On the day the furniture removalists arrived there was a knock at the door, even though the door was wide open.

Bruce went to answer the knock and that is when we first met George.

George is a wonderfully gentle man of 87 years. Reminds me of Mr Miyagi, a Japanese karate master in the movie Karate Kid. He would come to the previous owners every six weeks or so and prune and manicure the bushes and trees in the front yard and do any weeding. George would prune the bushes into ovals, egg-shapes. (I’ve often thought of asking if he could do an elephant shape. I know you just smiled!)

As he was sharing with Bruce, in a softly spoken voice, he was offering his services again to us to continue to maintain the beauty of the front yard. Bruce and I had heard about a gardener (before meeting George) but we had privately decided I would look after the garden because I enjoy gardening and it was only a fairly small area anyway.

I came up to the front door to see what was happening just as George shared that he used to do 30 gardens but now only does two and did we still want him. As he asked, he respectfully bowed towards me as I introduced myself.  Bruce was facing me and with his eyes asked the question. How could we not say yes to a man who clearly loved the garden and also could earn a little while doing it at his age.

And so, it was to my surprise when just the other day there was a knock at the door, and it was George. He started by apologising. I was a little confused but as he shared more, I realised what he was trying to say.

He first started bowing to me – oh what honour he was bestowing on me, then he kept profusely saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’ Out from his extended hand came a card. He pointed out it was from a Physiotherapist. He had had an appointment today and has one next week. Then he showed me the exercises written down that he had to do.

Still saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry.’ He stopped and said, ‘My daughter said I had to come and talk to you. I don’t want to, but this is the truth’ as he shook with the papers he had just shown me.

Then it clicked. He had injured his back and could no longer do our garden. I started shaking his hand to thank him for his work, thank him for his service, thank him for looking after us and our garden. He kept saying, ‘I am 87 and I’m sorry.’ I then kept saying to him, ‘I understand. You need to look after yourself. Thank you. Thank you.’

As George left, I felt privileged to know him even for such a short amount of time. I loved that he loved his gardening so much that even at 87 he did not want to give it up but had to for his health.

But I was very struck that he had felt to show proof by appointments and exercises written out by the physio that what he was saying was the truth.

It brought two things to mind.

One was many years ago when my eldest daughter, Emma, was 4 years of age. (Yes, that is the same Emma who is on the Heart Team) She had been playing with the little boy, Michael, next door who was a little bit older than her. I noticed that she had come home and was playing in her room when there was a knock at the door. It was a Saturday and Bruce was home so he went to answer it. It was  Michael and his Dad. His Father was angry and first words out of his mouth were, ‘Your daughter hit my son with a brick!’

Bruce yelled out to Emma to come to the front door. Again the accusation flew out of Michael’s Dad’s mouth.

Bruce asked Emma if she had hit Michael with a brick. ‘No Daddy. I did not.’ Emma replied.

Michael’s Dad then seemed to get angrier and angrier. ‘Yes, she did. She’s lying.’

Bruce could see he needed to calm the situation down (or at least calm the Father down) so Bruce turned to Emma and said, ‘You must apologise.’ To which Emma did. There was a ‘humph’ response from Michael’s Dad as he turned to go back home. As the door closed Bruce turned towards Emma and said, ‘Now you won’t get into trouble but did you hit Michael with the brick?’

‘No Daddy,’ she stated. ‘I hit him with the egg-beater!’

Oh I burst out with a laugh, quickly hidden so as Emma could not see. She had been telling the truth. But not given the whole picture.

This was reflected in a similar scenario just the other day too, when Willow who is 3 was told by her Mum to stop throwing rocks. ‘I didn’t,’ she replied. Melissa said, ‘but I felt it on my leg.’ Willow then stated, ‘I did not throw rocks Mum, it was a woodchip.’

Clearly when we are so young, 3 and 4 years old as seen here, the total truth comes out eventually, but you are young, immature and often not knowing what you are meant to say. When we are 23, 34, 54, however, you know that part of the truth. You know that part of the story is not being revealed.

The second thing that kept going around in my mind was these words that Jesus encouraged us to live by – Tell the truth for it will set you free.

If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.

John 8:31 NRSV

Telling the truth, living in the truth frees us from guilt, frees us to live like Jesus. When we abide in his Word we are dwelling with Him, living with Him and His word, His way of living and Truth is part of the Way.

The freedom Jesus spoke about cannot be found by an academic study of truth but by a living it out, living in the Word, being His Disciple.

There is nothing like the freedom we can have in Jesus. No money can buy it, no status can obtain it, no works can earn it and no money can obtain it.

Enduring Word Commentary by David Gusik

It is only by “abiding in Him and being His disciple” that we will find the Truth to live by. This will let us live free. Whole. We will not have to hide part of the truth. We will want to live by and with the whole truth.

Just like George wanted to prove to me He was being totally truthful. He walked away content I was ok with him not being to able to continue with his gardening. He was free from any guilt he may have felt leaving us in the lurch. (We did NOT at all feel this way.)

So, let us live in Truth. Seek out the Truth in every situation. Only by dwelling with the Word, with Jesus, will we truly be followers of Him. Then we will know the Truth and be able to live free of all that would hinder us to live a great life.

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Do you tell the truth? (the whole truth?)

Do you abide in Him and His truth?