Grandmother dug into the earth saying br 'men, family, children br are like tending to the garden. br br First, you have to have good seed br and good dark earth.' br br I used to help her tend the garden br on my Sunday visits-a patch in the br back of her house. br br 'Get a good fertilizer, find the right spot, br location matters in all this, br bad location br the family, the children, the wife, the men br don't do so good. br br Plant the good seeds of decency. br br Tell the truth, work hard, br don't get mean br and cynical, br love peace, br help your neighbor. br Simple, really. br br Then you find what each plant needs. br Some like a lot of light br some like shade, br then afternoon or morning light, br br Each is different. br br And have to take the time br to find out what works for each. br br And you water your damp ground br til that first little leaf comes up, br pokes up its little head br looking at the first light of its life br of its first day. br br That feels good. br br And then you water it, br let it know it is welcome in this world, br that someone cares. br br And you tend to it. br br Keep the weeds away, br the ants and the snails, br and big feet trampling br and it grows, br til you have your first bud br that flowers, br and the branches get sturdy, br and supports more and more of the buds, br and then the early flowers, br and then the full blossomings. br br Pretty soon you have your garden, br and you teach your kids, br and your grandkids how to keep br it flowering; br br like that br generation after generation. br br Of course you need the Son, br the Father too br and the Holy Ghost br .