|
Dear
Readers,
As
stated in a previous column, one night in 1981, I got out of bed at
midnight to write what would be my first newspaper article.
Here
I must tell you that my relationship with God is very informal. I do
attend church regularly but feel His presence wherever I am. I cannot
abide anyone shouting or using pressure to get their religious message
across. My prayers are very simple — never fancy or pretty. However God
must approve of me.
One
day as I made my journey down highway 225, across the causeway and through
Mobile to my work as a nurse at Mobile Infirmary, I said this prayer,
"If writing is to be my assignment while on Earth, please show me how
to use it as a benefit to myself as well as others."
Soon
I began to hear a message in my head. BUILD A GREENHOUSE AND GROW HERBS.
This message played over and over like a broken record both night and day.
Of course no one but I could hear the voice. This was 1984.
My
Mother was dying with cancer. I was the attending child. I shared with my
understanding husband, Richard, my experience regarding the voice. Soon
after Mother’s death he said, "Now we’ll build the
greenhouse." We did. The message in my head ceased. I had done its
bidding.
As
I look back on this, I realize that God had me start my herbal education
with the basics — by planting seed. Soon my garden in Baldwin County was
teeming with fruits, vegetables and herbs around my greenhouse. I became a
charter member of THE GULF COAST HERB SOCIETY. I became a member of THE
HERB SOCIETY OF AMERICA.
During
Mother’s last days I had put my writing on hold. Now I wrote again.
Still human interest subjects, but now the theme was primarily herbs. I
was something of a pioneer on the subject here in the southeast. This
seems to be the area of our country which is the slowest to accept
something new.
In
1990, we decided to move back to Pike County where we had both grown up.
We brought with us a truck load of potted herbs. We no longer had a
greenhouse. Our new back yard became a vegetable and herb garden. Our many
visitors marveled at the wonderful scents of the many plants which few had
ever seen.
Richard’s
progressive illness and my osteoporosis (I have the osteoporosis under
control with natural products) plus osteo-arthritis eventually put an end
to our gardening. Then suddenly I had a new thought, "I have an ideal
spot for an herb shop." This came as we were enclosing our large 16 x
22 foot front porch in 1995. This was evidently another phase in God’s
plan for my involvement with herbs. Now I was involved with the medicinal
side of herbs — something I had sworn I’d never do.
The
words I have written have always rather rolled out of my head — that is
until my most recent column was written. The day after it was faxed to you
it came to me — it was time to stop. Writing that last column was work,
not fun as always before. I repeat, it was time to stop. There is much in
my head which will never be printed.
For
the time being my home-based herb business will continue. I sincerely hope
that I have fulfilled God’s assignment.
With
thankfulness and best regards,
Nadine
Johnson
|
