Gentleness. In the story, “A Garden,” Mother teaches Daisy a gentleness in growing the seedlings. When they are tender and young sprouts, they are kept free from every danger on the warm radiator of the house. As the sun is on them by the window, they strengthen. They are protected so that nothing from outside the little house is able to reach them. As the seedlings grow, they are ready for more sun and are brought to the greenhouse. There the stems thicken, and the tiny plants grow stronger. Still, they are protected from the dangers outside the greenhouse.

     Then in the process gardeners call “hardening off,” the seedlings are brought out for short times outside. Slowly the young plants are introduced to the world. This means there is an opportunity for critters to have access to the plants and also for cold and strong winds and rain to bear down upon the plants. Once the hardening off process is complete, the seedlings are planted in the garden outside where they can grow much bigger and begin to set fruit. That fruit, which they produce, can in turn create seeds that have the potential to multiply the harvest for seasons to come.

     Mother shows us how slowly a young plant is introduced to the world. When a plant is under her care, she does everything purposefully and gently and always for the best of the plant. In the same way, Our Blessed Mother treats her children. She keeps them in her nursery while they are small. Over time as their faith strengthens, she exposes them to experiences outside the nursery until they are strong enough to stand firm in virtue within the world. Despite the wind of temptation, her children are not uprooted because they have slowly grown sturdy in faith under her care.