One day a woman was working in the garden outside of her house when a travelling minister stopped by. “What a lovely garden, “he exclaimed, getting out of his white Mercedes Benz. Full of roses, orchids, and other beautiful flowers, the garden was bordered by sculpted hedges and stood out from the other gardens in the neighbourhood.
“My good woman. God has certainly blessed you with an extraordinary garden.”
The woman stood up and wiped her brow.
“Yes, and i am very grateful. But you should’ve seen this place when He had it all to Himself”!
As he drove away, the travelling minister realized that every gardener along this road had been blessed with the same soil, the same opportunity, and that each garden was a reflection of the people who created it. What someone does with their garden is their business. While each gardener had similar materials to work with, this woman had done something truly extraordinary, for her garden had surpassed her neighbours.
The woman was grateful for what she had been given, but she knew that what she did with it was the difference between success and failure. Good fortune may help you get to the top, but it takes hard work to stay there. Though many philosophers have made the statement that man is the master of his destiny, most have failed to say why. Man may be the master of himself and his destiny because it is he who can taste the fruit of his own labour. To a world that requires service, measures discipline and patience, demands a fair day’s wages for an honest day’s effort, and values the time and commitment that excellence demands, the road to greatness is spit-polished with sweat. Work is the shortest path to success.
Happy Sunday morning.