These flowers have been a balm to my soul this week.  A Mother’s Day/Birthday present two years ago, these gorgeous lilies were transplanted into the backyard bed in hopes of propagation and long life.  Sadly, they withered up and all but died away.  I never dug them up because I’m really not a gardener…if it doesn’t thrive with minimal to no care on my part it should just move on elsewhere.

Fast forward to this Monday while walking the yard with the pup, lo and behold this beauty stood loud and proud where prior there was nothing.  NO. THING.  I mean one dead a** leaf pile and now this.  Just WOW!

After an epically crappy parenting weekend this was quite the incredible gift.  Trust me.

And then we have these lovelies that I am terrified to split and separate for fear they will all die a horrid death, and yet if I do prune them and thin them out it is quite likely they will be even more spectacular each year.

Kind of like parenting.  Sow the seed.  Nurture.  Give them room to grow and even when you have to step in and walk them through the hard and horrible stuff of live and learn….even that can grow tremendous beauty and healing.  (fortunately, I am a slightly better parent than gardener)

Walking a lake loop during another child’s counseling appointment and the glory of God is just all around.  So much to be grateful for.

Even these lovelies are pruned heavily for a period of time and their blooms are so incredibly lovely to stand in the shade of.

John 15:2  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

And so even though we weather the storms from time to time, I have every faith and hope that the seeds that we planted will bear abundant fruit in due time.  Parenting is not for the weak, my friends.    Thanks be to God for His endless mercy and grace to fuel us along the way……and for the interecession of Our Blessed Mother as she unties these knots to pave the way to glory.    Often the most amazing gifts are revealed after the strongest of storms.  Thanks be to God.