A Garden Walk Through the Heart of the 12 Days of Christmas

WELCOME! I’m glad you’re joining me for this preview of the book A Garden Walk Through the Heart of the 12 Days of Christmas. At this point, you may have presupposed that a garden tour, 12 Days of Christmas, and a devotional sound random, especially if you’re thinking about the holiday song, “Twelve Days of Christmas!” It’s about a generous benefactor who gives nonsensical gifts at Christmas time, such as a partridge in a pear tree, 5 golden rings, and 10 lords a-leaping!! Historically, the 12 Days of Christmas (not the song) is a celebration of Jesus’s birth on December 25th that continues to January 5th – the twelfth night or Epiphany Eve. Epiphany is the day that the Three Kings visited Jesus and was the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles – the non-Jews. In the “Twelve Days of Christmas” song, the days are characterized by fowl, rings, and people doing things! In A Garden Walk Through the Heart of the 12 Days of Christmas, the days are represented by fowl found on the peninsula of beautiful Fowler Lake where Zion Church is situated—a real place in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin—and by flowers personally planted on the property. Our tour takes us to this stunning location. You’ll first notice the picturesque 1889 historic English limestone church with bright red doors, a characteristic of Episcopal churches, but that is not our destination. However, throughout Christmastide at Zion, traditional Christmas carols such as “Away in a Manger,” “Joy to the World,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” are sung, for they are hymns that glorify the Lord Jesus. On the other hand, carols like “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells” are secular songs that observe holiday and winter themes. Then there’s the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Where does that fit in? And what’s it all about?? Between the 16th and 18th centuries, there was a period of religious persecution in England wherein parents sought secret, ingenious ways to teach their children. It is believed that this fun, quirky carol could have been a response to the status quo. And is that much different from the 21st-century’s inventiveness of using Zoom calls and online meetings for church, school, and business during the worldwide pandemic? This historical context adds depth to the carol’s meaning. Singing about the gifts is just the wrapping paper concealing Biblical Truth. For 12 days, we’ll unwrap these gifts and expose them for the treasures they are! For now, it’s of consequence that I tell you how the garden tour came into being. While members at Zion Church, my husband Rodney and I volunteered to develop the grounds around the building, which ultimately evolved into 25 themed gardens! Like perennials that come back every year, Rodney and I returned for seven growing seasons—and were honored to be asked to participate in two local garden tours. After that, we realized it was best to scale back and tend the gardens in our own yard! Nevertheless, I continued to work on the Gardens of Zion – only now, by generating a virtual tour! Since we could no longer maintain such a vast spread of gardens, I decided to document their story - this is an excerpt of that endeavor. Suppose you’re still wondering about the correlation between a garden walk, a devotional, and the song 12 Days of Christmas. If that’s the case, God primarily connects with us through Creation and speaks through His Living Word - the Bible. The Gardens of Zion were a microcosm of His handiwork. God likes it when His Son is expressed in many different ways. The following passages from the book A Garden Walk Through the Heart of the 12 Days of Christmas are from the ninth day or January 2. Enjoy! Showcased Plant: Ballet Girl - planted in the Northshore Garden. ‘“On the ninth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me – 9 ladies dancing…’ A special tradition during the Christmas season is going to The Nutcracker Ballet… But flu season comes on fast and furious, and it’s sad when you can’t take your daughter! On short notice, you’ll have to settle for calling a little neighborhood friend - the antithesis of who you’d typically consider inviting to a ballet! You know the type, high energy, boisterous. The kind of kid who, while visiting your house, breaks your next-door neighbor’s window while pretending to be Goliath with his slingshot and three stones! No, ballet wouldn’t be on his radar! But surely, he’d be captivated by the magnificent scenes, music, athleticism, and a guy’s night out with your husband and son! And he was! The Nutcracker is a story that begins with gifts, especially the gift of a Nutcracker that comes to life. Gift-giving is central to Christmas, for God gave us the example by gifting His Son! When we truly receive the gift of Himself into our hearts, we come to life – anew! To confirm that a transformation has occurred, God gifts us again by giving us His Holy Spirit, who empowers us in our walk of faith. At our birth, the Holy Spirit is active in our world. But as we’re rebirthed, He becomes personally active in our lives because we’ve permitted Him to live within. Further Assurance that He is in us - is that fruit is produced. Fruit?? It’s the manifestation of the Lord’s presence. A change that naturally ripens, a gift that keeps on giving. Nine ladies dancing certainly have something to dance about, for they represent the Fruit of the Spirit, ‘Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’ Galatians 5:22-23 The Point is: the New Year - is here! As we make resolutions, some “Fruit of the Spirit” may be on that list. Forming a habit and bringing it to fruition takes strong perseverance! But we don’t have to be resolute on our own! God is with us—Emanuel!