THE TIRED OLD GARDENER

He sat silently on his bench

A far away look in his eye

Thinking of younger days

He remembered with a sigh

He spoke softly the old gardener

As the sun kissed his face

Between you and me dear Lord

We sure made this a beautiful place

With the green of the lawn

I mow with effort and care

And the shrubs and the flowers

That I planted everywhere

You give me a half acre Lord

And for that I thank you

But I let you look after some it

There was too much for me to do

You filled your half with docks

Nettles briars and weeds

While I sweated in mine Lord

Doing all my deeds

But I knew you were a wildlife gardener

And you sure made a great success

Only if I had done the same in mine

I think it would have looked a real mess

But I know you helped me Lord

When flower seeds I did sow

There was nothing more I could do

Only watch you make them grow

Thank you dear Lord for the pleasure

And the joy you give me in my garden

But most of all for sins removed

When you give me your full pardon

Now Lord I'm old and bent with care

With muscles all taut and pain in my back

I can hardly move or bend down to weed

Every part of my body hurts with an ache

Oh Lord forgive me my flowing tears

As I sit here quietly crying

For I cant work this land anymore

And my spirit is slowly dying

I long for your garden up above

Where the roses they bloom forever

Where I shall sit beside the crystal water

And that place I shall leave no never

Take your gardener home Lord

You know he has done his best

Then the tired old gardener breathed his last

God had taken him home to rest