The Gardener

Recently, learnt that a friend started writing for a website... http://www.potnpen.com/pnp15_home.php

Hopped by and read a couple of articles by here.
One of which, "The Gardener" was pretty interesting... http://www.potnpen.com/pnp15_busy.php

I like the beginning... which tries to define "what a gardener" is?
"Who is this person we call a ‘gardener.’ Is he a person who just remove dead debris that litter the garden; a person who merely trim, cut and water the plants? Or someone in love with nature and knows how to appreciate it with respect."

Indeed, I admire her observation skills... where she went into details of what a gardener does! I didn't know there were so much thinking and work behind - just a garden!

Somewhere in the 2nd page, she wrote,
"I hope to be a gardener who understands how essential plants are to our existence; one who realizes that gardening could uplift our self-esteem, a valuable tool in the healing process (being one of those whose emotional stress was tamed by spending time feeling the soil and digging for those unsightly worms); and a friend who could coax a smile from our weary face."

I have nothing to add into the topic... however, I immediately draw a parallel - Aren't we gardeners? I think many of us are!!! Being a parent or a teacher. Every child is a little plant - whether the plant remains sheltered for the entire life within the room or experience rain and sunshine to become a strong tree rooted to the ground... it really depends on the gardener!!! The decision to let go (at varying degrees) or protect.

This is especially apparent to parents - many children are either the only child or have only 1 other sibling! So, we can imagine, many of them would be sheltered from the heavy rain and strong wind!

Similarly, as teachers - to what extent do we provide guidance to our students? Spoonfeed or just to guide (then the next question, to show the way or not...)

How successful are we, as gardeneres?