PASTORAL PONDERINGS
First of all, I need to affirm that I know absolutely nothing about growing things. Whether it is grass, fruits or flowers, I am completely ignorant about horticulture. That being said, last October when in Florida, I bought a potted Klancha. It had beautiful orange blooms and according to the little plastic thing in the pot, it said it needed minimal care and liked bright sun.
Sounded like a winner to me.
When we left to go north for the holidays I left it without sun or water for six weeks. Upon return all the flowers had dropped off and the ends of the leaves were turning brown. A certain candidate for the trash. However, I trimmed off the dead flowers and leaves, watered it and put a drop of fertilizer on it every week. Much to my surprise it seemed like it was coming back to life. It now is hardy and has more beautiful flowers than it had to begin with.
The lesson here is we often discard people for one reason or another and think they are hopeless. If we take the time to really care and nurture them it is amazing what they can become. The Hymn of Promise by Natalie Sleeth begins, “In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree” , a wonderful reminder of what can occur with our love.
~Rev. Dr. Fred Leasure, Parish Associate
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