Are You the Flower or the Plant?

Like us, lavender bushes are resilient with tough, bare branches lying beneath the fragile beauty of its stems. The flowers bloom from near bottom to top, just as our emotions and feelings rise up out of our core. Bees and butterflies dance around, stopping briefly before moving on, much like the people who pass through our lives, some just for a moment, others for longer, but never forever.

Our life is marked by seasons of plenty as well as times of drought and hardship in between. Strength arises from internal twisting and turning, as our exterior becomes scraped, battered, and worn. Lavender, in similarity to us, appears in distinct colors, sizes, and shapes; some are favored, while others are disliked without apparent reason.

Lavender thrives among the rocks, which offer coolness from the heat of the day, shelter for themselves and others, and to keep weeds from overtaking their space. As we grow, it is important to use what we have to support and care for ourselves also. Both inside and outside, we need spaces where we can escape the noise of life and find comfort where we are able.

Gardens and plants are often featured in my writing as metaphors for everyday living. Working in the soil, moving rocks, and caring for plants gives me a sense of safety and purpose. While a few complain about my constant weed-pulling and clearing out the debris, the plants respond with steady growth and resiliency.

By tending to ourselves with kindness and consistency, we create the best environment to thrive in. Our ‘flowers’ may fade and fall with time, yet we can ‘grow’ lasting connections and a ‘landing place for others’.

If you ever have the chance to grow or visit a lavender field, you may be surprised at how closely it parallels Your own life.

^-^ Zete