"Your Life is a Garden," says Jill Ririe, Molli's Mom.

Why the word "Garden"? The only answer we have is that Molli's heart, while on this earth, was truly a garden in progress for the glory of God just as all our lives should be. Her decision to end her life was the one bad choice she made while here on Earth. It left a devastating trail of pain in the hearts of so many who loved her, especially her family, and it certainly didn't glorify God. However, you will learn as you read about Molli, the acts of kindness and compassion she showed to others did.We do know that God wants us to view our lives as a garden.

"When I sat down to plan this website, which is what I told my web design students is 70% of creating a website, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would let me know why God wanted this site to be named "Molli's Garden". Profound thoughts started filling my head that I know didn't come from me. I started thinking about what it takes to have a successful garden - something very beautiful and valuable. I came up with this list:

• Plan enough space to allow for growth.
• Nurture it by adding rich soil and carefully planting precious new seedlings or plants.
• Love it by giving it plenty of sun and water.
• Protect it by keeping weeds under control and adding slug bait.
• Enrich it by regularly adding fertilizer and spending time taking off old blooms so new ones will blossom.

I realized the similarities that God was trying to point out to me between a garden and a good life. Check this out:

• Plan enough space for your spirit to grow by learning as much as you can about yourself and what you are here to learn. Create a space to "listen" especially to your Creator. He loves you, His angels watch over you, and He only wants what's best for you. "I know the plans I have for you - plans to prosper you and not harm you - plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
• Nurture it by adding good parents and/or family, and carefully choosing good friends.
• Love it by accepting God's love and giving love and respect to others.
• Protect it by taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and by learning to love and have faith in yourself.
• Enrich it by regularly adding knowledge, inspirational messages, positive words from friends and family, and spending time with yourself and with God to break old bad habits and form good new ones, along with finding new ways to help others - those who need to feel valuable, too.

You know what never ceases to amaze me? How God speaks to us, lays out His plans, and then guides our footsteps. If we are listening, it comes back to us in some way that we got it right, and it feels wonderful. This website, and particularly this page, has done that for me. I've been reading so many books, many that I'm sure I've been led to, and my spirit has been reorganized and refreshed and lifted to a closeness with God that I cannot describe. Because this page is basically the root of the site, I am simply attempting to help us all figure out why we are so valuable and what we're supposed to do with that value. I can only imagine how this world will change if even only a few of us figure that out. We, young and old alike, can change the world--if we stick around long enough to listen. It's wonderful to hear the Voice of the Lord, and what may surprise you is that He speaks to everyone - young and old. The question is whether or not you are listening or simply assuming it's your own thoughts.

I can tell you that everything - and I mean everything that I have been through in my life - the trials and joys - has happened to bring me to exactly where I am. I can also tell you that it's all been for YOU and this ministry. That's how much the Lord loves you. The hopelessness, depression, and suicide of our young absolutely breaks His heart. I literally felt that the morning after Molli took her life when I heard His voice the very first time. He said, "I UNDERSTAND..." It was so filled with grief and remorse - and matched my emotions exactly."

Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.

By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life. He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought forces and mind elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny.

James Allen From "As A Man Thinketh"