The Story: The Oil Can
“Be gentle with the worn things. They remember what endurance costs.” — Anonymous
When I first picked it up, I felt its weight before I saw it clearly. Heavy. Dented. One of those pieces that’s worked hard for someone, long before it ever ended up with me. I wasn’t sure what it was, an old oil can, maybe a watering can, but something about it felt alive. The man selling it didn’t know much. Said it had just been lying around.
Still, I could picture it being used by steady hands, oiling hinges or gears, keeping something going that might’ve quit without a little help. I thought about that later, how many times I’ve done the same. Trying to keep things from falling apart, trying to hold a family together, trying to keep my own spirit from rusting shut. Sometimes love is that simple: showing up with oil and patience when everything feels stuck.
For a while, the can sat in my garage. Then one day, I filled it with soil and planted violas: small, brave flowers that don’t seem to realize how delicate they look. Steel and softness. Work and rest. I stood back and thought, this is grace. Grace doesn’t erase the dents. It fills them. After I watered the flowers in, I noticed the can had tiny leaks, making the sides of the can look like tears. I guess we all leak in different ways, a reminder that humanity is complicated but beautiful.
Oil keeps the world from grinding down. It heals what’s dry, makes motion possible again. And maybe that’s all we need sometimes, a little oil, a little mercy, to get us moving toward light again.
Care Guide
Light: Bright, indirect sun.
Water: Let the soil dry between waterings; avoid standing water.
Environment: Indoors or on a covered porch; protect from frost. Bring inside when outdoor temps dip.
Encouragement: When you feel the weight of things, remember: you were built to hold more than you think.
I prayed over this vessel and for you, the one holding it now. May it remind you that what’s dented is not done, that grace still seeps through the cracks, and that even the heaviest things can bloom when held with love.
“He will renew your strength; you will run and not grow weary.” — Isaiah 40:31
With you in the soil and the story,
Ellie
A Living Story Disclaimer
Each Restoried Garden begins its journey in my hands but continues its story with you. Every vessel has been cleaned, prepared, and planted with care; however, once it leaves my garden, its life depends on your unique environment and tending. Please note that weather, watering, and placement all influence longevity, and I cannot be responsible for plant performance or wear over time. These pieces are meant to live, grow, and change, a reflection that no story truly ends; it simply takes root somewhere new.
