"We don't even know how strong we are until we are forced to bring that hidden strength forward. In times of tragedy, of war, of necessity, people do amazing things. The human capacity for survival and renewal is awesome."
~
Isabel Allende
Who among us isn't awed and sometimes moved to tears by human survival stories? Animal stories too.
What about plants?
I was recently awed by nature's response to Hurricane Irma within a botanical garden on Sanibel Island, Florida. When I visited there a month after the storm, the garden looked wounded, almost
in shock. High winds had stripped away flowers, leaves, vines, and branches. Many trees were down; many were damaged.
In what is usually a lush hibiscus garden, only a handful of blooms existed on, interestingly, the varieties of Weeping Hibiscus and Life Saver.
None on Bella Hope. In fact, the sign for that variety was missing. Yet there were sure signs of beautiful hope. And of strength.
A closer
look revealed profuse budding and tiny, bright-green, spring-like new leaves on plants throughout the six-acre garden. Tree seedlings were popping through the soil everywhere too.
Two months later that garden was a sight to behold. Apparently the stress upon it resulted in a surge of strength from life's instinct to thrive.
That strength and the will to thrive that is a part of life itself is within you and me. If
you are not seeing evidence of that, please hold hope.
Always,
Charlene
PS - I welcome comments and questions. Write to me at editor@featherfew.com.
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