Guys, How’s the Garden Doing?

Fellas, you may not have dirt under your fingernails. You may not have a treasure trove of lawn implements taking up space in your garage. There may not be a bowl of fresh produce – grown in your own backyard – sitting on the kitchen counter. But if you’re a faithful, godly husband and father, you are a “keeper of the garden.”

In his book The Men We Need, author Brant Hansen expounds on the story of Adam in the Garden of Eden and the role God gives to him. Adam is to tend the garden and to care for Eve so that all of God’s beautiful creation flourishes. Adam is to be the “keeper of the garden.” Adam’s failure to live up to his God-given call mercifully isn’t the end of the story. Rather, it’s the literal genesis of God’s plan for mankind’s rescue and salvation. Brant does a masterful job of applying God’s charge to all men through all of time in His call to Adam.

So, gentlemen, as Father’s Day is just around the corner, may I commend those of you who are pursuing biblical manhood by answering the call of the Master Gardener on your lives?

Thank you for taking responsibility and doing your very best to lead your family well. Every time you set up practices in the home that lighten the load (be it financial, spiritual or relational) on your wife and children, you’re tending your garden. When you see the latest and greatest ________ (fill in the blank) that’s calling your name, you say to yourself, “That’s awesome, and I don’t have to have it.” (Thanks, Brant, for the quote.) When your wife needs your support and guidance and you step in instead of sneaking off? Way to do the right thing, man. When you faithfully go to a job that provides for the needs of your family, you’re blessing the garden God has entrusted to you. Hard work is good work – whether sitting at a desk, behind the controls of a front-end loader or caring for a full schedule of sick patients.

Thank you for being faithful to your wife. You know that the fake images on a screen are no substitute for emotional and physical intimacy with a real woman in a real relationship. You know that the effort it takes to study your wife, learn to love her well, and strive to honor and bless her reaps deep, rich rewards that can’t be fast-tracked. It takes time, sacrifice, and commitment, and you know it’s worth it. Well done, faithful keeper of the garden.

Thank you for prioritizing time with your family above career, recreation, and other distractions. You know that the idea of pouring yourself into overtime “for the sake of the family” actually robs them of your presence, influence, and support. They need you now. You know that a day on the golf course or a few hours with the video game console drain away precious time that you can’t get back. You choose what’s most valuable, and your people know and appreciate it. Good job, sir.

Thank you for using your strength to provide security in your home, your neighborhood, and your community. You may not be big and buff and brawny, but you’re bold and brave when the need arises. You’re vigilant to watch out for the vulnerable, and you stand ready to defend and protect. There’s no fear of abuse or danger within the sphere of your influence, but rather a pervading sense of safety. You set the tone in your home by the tone of your voice. A gentle, even, calm demeanor lets your family know that fear and shame have no place in your home. You speak life, and life thrives under your care.

Thank you for daily filling your cup in the presence of God. You can’t give away what you don’t possess, and you’re unashamed in proclaiming your dependence on God. He is the One Who models perfect loyalty and unfailing commitment, Whose Spirit fills you with self-control and obedience, and Whose Son has taught you how to love sacrificially. A father who follows in the footsteps of Jesus is the greatest gift a family could ever ask for.

The beauty of a garden is that there’s always the hope of new life. If your gardening (or “dadding”) skills are lacking and you wish you were doing a better job of caring for the tender shoots in your charge, there’s so much good news for you! Come as you are – fears, failures, and regrets – and let the Father teach you His ways with the garden. Your children will flourish. Your wife will flourish. You will flourish!

For all the dads who are stepping up to their call to be keepers of the garden – thank you, and God bless you. Happy Father’s Day.

(You can read the story of God’s commissioning of Adam in Genesis 1 and 2. Additional responsibilities for Christian husbands and fathers can be found in Ephesians 5 and 6.)