A garden-loving woman
asked
a garden-curious man
to spend an afternoon
weeding her garden
with her.
The man,
worried she was using him,
posted about this date online.
Many, MANY people said
she WAS using him.
Some other people said
she was testing him,
determining
if he could complete tasks.
None of those people
were gardeners.
Because weeding isn’t merely
a task or a chore.
It is an act of nurturing.
It is caring for things
she cares greatly about.
Inviting someone
to weed a beloved garden
is an act of trust.
Most non-gardeners
are disasters at weeding.
They cause great harm
in gardens.
The invitation wasn’t a test.
The man had already passed
that test.
It was an honor.
But he likely won’t ever
realize that.
And he will likely destroy
an otherwise wonderful
budding relationship.
Because he asked the wrong people
for advice.
Be careful
about who you ask
for advice.