I take a walk throught the garden of my soul br It has been too long since I've done that br I find the gate into the garden is rusty and difficult to open br The pathway almost obscrued by weeds and grass br br I remember a time when taking that walk was beautiful br I remember beautiful flowers, waterfalls, well tended hedges br I remember sunlight, moonbeams and twinkling stars br br Now it all seems ugly and uncared for br How did this happen? br How did I stop tending my soul? br How did I hand over the precious task of keeping it beautiful to others? br br How could I trust others to tend my garden? br And now I walk, getting scratching by weeds br Looking for something of beauty in a once beautiful soul br br And there, in a corner is one beautiful flower br Struggling to survive in this barren, ugly wasteland br Reaching for the sun, surviving against the odds br br I go over, tears streaming down my face br My heart breaking for what I've done br The pain and destruction to this once beautiful place br And as my tears fall, I watch as the flower seems to get stronger br Giving me strength br br I look around, I remember the beauty, br I look at that flower and I know br I know in this bruised, hurt and neglected soul br There is still a glimmer of hope br If this one flower can survive, so can others br It is up to me br br I turn and walk out and as I walk br I make a decision br A decision to restore my sould to it's former beauty br To nurture it, to tend it, to be gentle and patient with it br To never hand over it's precious care to anyone else br br I will visit the garden in my soul regularly br I will bring it gifts of love and kindness, br Water it with my laughter and tears br And get rid of the weeds br Plant new and beautiful flowers br And take pride in it as it grows br And becomes a place I love to visit againbr br Mandi Ducroqbr br