“One cannot do it all.”
This, they both knew and understood.
To succeed in one way—devoting effort, love and time—came at the cost and perceived sense of failure in another.
“One cannot do it all.”
One has to choose.
“What is it that really matters?”
Answer speaks in what we choose and fruits of the life one lives.
Together, they raised their Eden.
Much was lost, much was wrong—beyond one’s control within this world. They focused on the small, what it was that they controlled, and in ownership of moment—life time and place—they cultivated what God always meant to be.
Sanctuary, Adam and Eve before—or in spite, or grace, of the Fall.
They devoted time to sanctuary and place. Around them, flowers blossomed. Fruit set upon the trees, the vines, each plant making known from the fruit of its bearing the goodness that it was.
Like verdant of the garden, by their fruit, they too made known the goodness of their love and souls.
Children raised, wonder, awe, curiosity in eyes—always an amazement when left alone and captivated in the small and living wonders that ever-present, all around.
And when their children grew, going out into the world beyond the wood farm-gated walls, they made new-Eden’s too; and by their fruit, their goodness was made known.
When their children departed, they both were proud of the souls and persons they became. And when returned, they greeted their children with joy and love in gates’ open welcome—awed and amazed for the fruit, as well, from which, and with them grew; extending ever-on growth and span of the Tree of Life.
And when they left, they were sad for a time, then settled back in peace and solace of their Eden: sitting on the porch in view falling sun and evening shade, awed and wondered in the miracle of place blessed to them for a moment of life and time.