"Where you tend a rose, my lad,
A thistle cannot grow."
While it is a product of its time (1911) and it must be read through that lens, The Secret Garden revels in the beauty and healing that can be found in God's green earth.
This quick little read has so much to say in regards to grief and healing, life and death, belief and hope. Little Mary, Dickon, and Colin exemplify the benefits of hard work, exercise, fresh air, healthy appetites, and wholesome friendships.
It is an undeniably beautiful story that slowly unfurls like a rose, emphasizing the importance of taking care--of self, of others, of the world around you--and the power of love, friendship, and belief in God and oneself.