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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Emergency Services, Oct. 1 ... Our View: School district facility fees should be reasonable ... Jordan Cove LNG opponents vow to take fight to governor's office ... Emergency Services, Oct. 1 ... Our View: School district facility fees should be reasonable ... Jordan Cove LNG opponents vow to take fight to governor's office ... Marketta Gregory: Perfect garden for prayer Comment By Marketta Gregory More Content Now MailTribune.com By Marketta Gregory More Content Now Posted Sep. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Marketta Gregory More Content Now Posted Sep. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Nancy Gullo will tell you she isn’t a great gardener. She bought azaleas and put them in heavy shade, for goodness’ sakes. And she didn’t spend much time decorating the old coffee can she has sitting on her bench in Bloomfield, New York. Just a simple white label that she wrote on in cursive: Leave your prayers to be lifted to God. So, in her eyes, the sliver of her yard that touches the post office’s parking lot isn’t perfect, but it welcomes all of us even in our imperfection and brokenness. It offers a respite from the sun, the sweet scent of flowers and a place for a weary soul to rest. It meets the need for hope and grace, and it meets that need now, today. Gullo has a theory that if something like visiting a friend comes to mind more than once, she should probably go visit that friend. She shouldn’t put it off or wait for an invitation. I tend to hesitate. I want the right words for the sympathy card, the right recipe for the meal. I worry and fret over being perfect when I should really be concerned about being punctual and about being present. Showing up at the right time to carry part of the burden. Showing up to say how proud I am of an accomplishment or a milestone. Showing up in time to grab my friend’s hand and walk the road together. I couldn’t tell you much of what people said in the blur after Daddy died, but almost 14 years later, I still remember being surrounded by love and carried by the strength of others in the days and months that followed. Gullo’s garden is beautiful and serene, and it is perfect. It’s perfect for all those who have sat with heavy hearts and asked for the healthy delivery of a baby, for their husband to find work and for their friend to feel better. It’s perfect for the kid who wanted a prayer to pass a test and for the old biker who was thankful for a place to sit for a spell. It’s perfect because it’s perfectly timed and perfectly placed. Marketta Gregory is a former religion reporter who now shares her own journey of faith with readers. She lives in Rochester, New York, with her husband, their three young boys and one very vocal Pomeranian. To contact Gregory, email [email protected] or write to her at P.O. Box 12923, Rochester, NY 14612. You can also visit the Simply Faithful page on Facebook and follow her on Twitter at @MarkettaGregory. By Marketta Gregory More Content Now MailTribune.com By Marketta Gregory More Content Now Posted Sep. 3, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501