In the Garden, by C. Austin Miles
I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling;
But He bids me go—thru the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
Devotion
Inwardly I groaned when it was announced that her favorite hymn was "In the Garden." To me this was a sappy, lightweight hymn about being with Jesus as one takes a morning walk in a garden. Then in the funeral sermon, the pastor told the story behind this hymn.
One day, C. Austin Miles, an early 20th century pharmacist, had a clear vision about Mary's Easter morning encounter with Jesus in the garden near the tomb. In the great joy of encountering the resurrected Jesus, Mary is able to walk with him and talk with him and share a joy "none other has ever known."
Miles was so inspired with his vision that he wrote as quickly as the words were formed by his pen and the poem has remained exactly so ever since.
Prayer
Lord, may the hope and joy of Easter fill our souls with delight. Amen.