My morning started out like most today. I woke early and spent precious time with my Lord and then began to get ready to go and spend even more time with him out in the garden. Only, he had other plans for me, plans far sweeter than any I had imagined.

A few of my sisters had visits scheduled for this morning, so my regular crew did not go out. Instead, one of my sisters who rarely goes out went with me. I was surprised when I saw her walking out of her door to join me. We walked out in silence and waited to be let out into the garden. As we waited, she asked what I was working on and how she could help. Although she rarely comes out, we have been together for over 26 years and just have this flow with one another that can only come from deep understanding of one another. Soon, she was watering while I was breaking up the ground right beside her. I was using an auger, but it felt like it was using me and after about 30 minutes I had to take a rest.

I sat down right there where we were working. Our conversation began on small things, but soon we were diving deep and talking about the powerful ways the Lord has worked in our lives and where we see him moving. We fed one another with what we have been studying individually and what the Lord has been revealing to us. At one point I was looking at her as she talked and was in complete awe. Awe at all I see the Lord has done in her life. How he has taken a broken and angry little girl and turned her into a strong woman with such a deep love for him. She longs to serve him with all that she is. He has filled her spirit with wisdom and gentleness. You would have to know her, the way I know her, to grasp the awesomeness of this alone!

I sat there listening to her with tears filling my eyes. When she finally noticed this, she asked me why I was crying, and all I could say was, “Wow, what an awesome God we serve!” Of course this led us to a song, and soon we were singing and praising the Lord as we worked side by side.

Later, when my hands were covered in blisters and I could no longer even hold the auger, we stopped and just sat together on the bench looking out over the garden. It is divided in 2 parts by a big beautiful tree. On one side we have a bountiful garden, filled with plants and flowers, while the other side seems pretty barren. It is where we are preparing for our fall garden, and so the ground is leveled for now. While we sat there, we watched a butterfly flutter by. It was flying all over the barren side of the garden, desperately looking for any kind of flower to feast on, but there were none. Almost at the same time, my sister and I said, “Go to the other side.”

Of course this made us both laugh, and together we continued cheering this beautiful creature on. It took several moments for it to make its way over to the area we had been cheering it to go, but once there it quickly began feasting on the sweet nectar of the flowers. At that very moment, as I sat watching this all play out, I could not help but see the comparison. I closed my eyes and imagined Jesus sitting right where we were, saying the exact same thing to us. Cheering us on to the other side. The side where his portions overflow and we are able to feast on his goodness, on all he had waiting for us all along, all he longed to give to us. From barrenness to bountiful. From blisters to butterflies.

Brittany Holberg is an Oblate of the Sisters of the Morning Star. She is housed on Texas Women’s Death Row.