Tending gardens and keeping sheep

"It is our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend." --President Thomas S. Monson

If I Planted a Garden by Sally Deford
If I planted a garden, if I carefully sowed
If I nourished each tiny seed
If I tended it well and helped it to grow
What a beautiful harvest I'd reap

In my life, like a garden, there are seeds to be sown
I must choose with the greatest care
Planting only what's good, so I can be sure
Only beautiful things will grow there

I am planting my garden every day of my life,
And the harvest is mine to keep
If I plant seeds of faith, of honor and truth
What a beautiful harvest I'll reap

"As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness." --President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Keeping Sheep by Lynne Perry Christofferson
1. I have a little flock of sheep,
And they are mine to tend and keep,
And I must guard them every day,
For little lambs, when left alone, will lose their way.
So many voices say to me, "A sheepfold is no place to be.
Your time in there is dull and slow,
And lambs leave very little room for you to grow.

Oh, if I ever start to stray,
Deceived by thoughts of greener pastures,
Remind me, Lord, that keeping sheep
Will lead to happier ever afters,
Will lead to happier ever afters.

2. Oh surely there will come a day
When all the lambs have left my side,
And I am free to roam about,
And go exploring other meadows green and wide.
Yet something whispers in my heart
That when my sheep have left this pen
I'll long to stroke their little heads,
To draw them close to me and have them young again.

So if I ever start to stray,
Deceived by thoughts of greener pastures,
Remind me, Lord, that keeping sheep
Will lead to happier ever afters,
Will lead to happier ever afters.

So while they still are in my care,
I pray that I will clearly see
These little lambs within my fold
Are tender gifts a loving Father has given me.