Every year my grandparents plant a huge
garden full of many different fruits and vegetables. These seeds are planted
with the intention to provide fresh food for our family, to share
with friends, and allow others to gain a taste of some delicious
produce while providing them with seeds to begin creating their own
garden. During the spring and summer months a lot of sweat and time is
devoted to the garden. The first step is to plant the seeds. Once this is
accomplished, they spend many weeks ensuring that the seeds they've
planted are nurtured in an atmosphere that will yield a healthy harvest.
It's that time of the year.
Summer break.
For some of us, summer is already here!
For others, sitting through a long
graduation ceremony is the only event standing in your way.
In reflecting over my own high school graduation, I realize that most details were a blur. However, I do remember re-reading my graduation speech in my head 100+ times, posing for a never ending stream of photographs, wrapping my arms around my mother's neck as I received my diploma, and then getting plastered with silly string in celebration.
In reflecting over my own high school graduation, I realize that most details were a blur. However, I do remember re-reading my graduation speech in my head 100+ times, posing for a never ending stream of photographs, wrapping my arms around my mother's neck as I received my diploma, and then getting plastered with silly string in celebration.
For some members of my class, that was
the last day our paths have crossed. I often wonder how life's circumstances
have treated them and how they have spent the past few years.
For others of my class, I have never
once had to question where they are or what they are doing because I've been
able to build on the memories that were established many years ago.
It's not until you grow and reach new heights
that you are able to look back and fully appreciate those precious times. I
suspect this delayed appreciation will continue to happen as we enter new
stages of our journey and later understand the magnitude of the moments that
once seemed insignificant. After discussion will a friend and former classmate,
some of our greatest “delayed appreciations” involved subtle conversations
where a coach or teacher expressed that they believed in us.
A seed was planted.
They believed in us and it allowed us to believe in ourselves.
They invested in us, so that we could
invest in others.
According to Google, a greenhouse is a
glass building in which plants are grown that need protection from cold
weather. In the same way that my grandparents tend to their garden outside, the
educators in the entire Greeneville City School system help students grow
academically, professionally, and as individuals. As a teacher’s daughter and
former student, I speak from a personal note when I say that the school system
served as my Greene-House and gave me a place to grow even during the coldest
of seasons.
For that, I am thankful.
I've discovered that we
aren't planted here to be the daisy, the tulip, or even the
rose. This lesson has been revealed to me recently, however I regret not
discovering this sooner.
Complete fulfillment cannot be achieved by satisfying my personal wants or by
obsessing on how others perceive you. This concept is often a
struggle for me. Especially in a culture that
constantly projects a false illusions that material gains and the
perfect hairstyle will result in happiness.
A dainty, vibrant,
perfectly flawless flower sitting gracefully in a vase for everyone to view.
Daily I find myself
striving (and failing) to be the flower, only to realize that I'm completely
missing the point.
You see, once the stem of the flower is cut the beauty remains for only a few days before wilting and becoming dead.
It's purpose was solely for fragrance and appearance.
Don't misunderstand me. Looking and feeling pretty is part of our feminine nature that should be embraced. However we are meant for so
much more!
We are called to be
the cantaloupe, the tomato, the watermelon, and the squash. You and I are
people of substance.
It's our job to
continue to enrich the lives of others,
to share wholesomeness, and to feed others the
opportunity to grow.
We are the produce.
With that comes a great privilege to share our seeds with others.
Seeds of encouragement and seeds of hope.
jpr
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