My grandpop Vincenzo loved his garden. He found time most summer days and weather permitting to go there. On many warm days, he quietly sang as he weeded through his endless rows of tomatoes. Other days, he would chat about what was happening in his life, about God’s goodness, or asked me about school. The whole time he was stringing poles for his beans, watering his tiny pepper sprouts, or simply pulling weeds.

At other times grandpop was quiet and reflective as if contemplating all this goodness before him while looking attentively at his fledging zucchini or prospering cantaloupes. No matter what he did, my grandpop was joyful and content which he magically transferred to his vegetables and me. Our parish saint, Saint Anthony of Padua wrote: Actions speak louder than words let your words teach and your actions speak.

Whether in dry hot days or in summer humidity, grandpop listened to his parish patron, and was his usual pleasant self. His garden vegetables responded to his immense optimistic attitude. I can’t remember a season when grandpop’s garden didn’t produce more than we could eat. Like him his vegetables accepted the weather as it occurred and did their best. Grandpop’s presence had that kind of magnetism.

Meanwhile grandpop’s annual harvest was plentiful. We ate fresh vegetables every day, gave extras to neighbors and family, and with still enough for canning. Everybody thought my grandfather was a miracle worker. However, his miracle was simple: it was his joyous, positive approach poured over his eager thriving vegetables. And they enthusiastically absorbed it all. Saint Augustine taught: God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. Grandpop thought the same way about his beloved garden.

This is how my grandpop tended his garden and his whole approach to life. Watching him tend his garden, I wanted to be like him. In fact, everyone who knew him, in and out of our family did. Grandpop’s approach always yielded the better outcome.

We learned that this is true in our lives. If we complain and struggle each day we live, we get nowhere. We are miserable and make those around us miserable as well. No one wins in a negative climate. What is needed is faith to shake free of what isn’t working and hope in embracing what is. This can turn a small return into a huge reward for all.

Our nation doesn’t need what we are, as much as it needs who we are. Anonymous