Small Joys–Houseplants
February is a bittersweet month for us. Sweet, because so many of our beloved friends and family members have birthdays in February, but bitter as well because our first child, Koral Kristine, was also born in February. She lived five short days and died of meningitis, very heart-rending. I don’t think there’s anything worse than seeing your child suffer and die. Neil and I were both 21, in love and clinging for all we were worth to each other and to God, our hearts shattered.
But wait, this is supposed to be about small joys, right? Let’s get into the joyful….
When Koral was born, we were given a planter that included a group of little pink flowers clustered around a tiny plant. That plant grew and grew and grew until it was ginormous.
On Koral’s tenth birthday, I was walking past the corner of our dining room where that plant lived, and I caught this most beautiful scent. I looked down and saw a shaft of white flowers growing from the center of the plant. They were just unfolding from their buds and the whole room was perfumed with their fragrance. The plant had never bloomed before, and here it was blooming exactly on her birthday. A beautiful “Godwink” that I needed especially on that day.
Now it so happens that I’m very good at killing plants, especially houseplants. Many years later, Koral’s plant was dying. I tried everything I knew to save it, but I was finally down to one leaf, and it was rotting from the root up. I cut it off and I stuck it into a glass of water with a little prayer and a great lack of faith. About a week later I could swear little white things were growing from the bottom edge. You could see them if you squinted your eyes. A week after that I knew they were roots. That was two years ago. Here we are about to celebrate Koral’s 49th birthday, and that plant is lovely once again as you can see.
Big sorrows, big joys, small sorrows, small joys–they can all grow us toward God and toward faith if we let them.
Blessings,
Sue
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story. I think we all know someone who has lost a baby or a child. Hopefully your story will bring to mind some small joy in their own experience.
Wow! Just wow!
That is a joyful story Sue. Thank you for having faith and not giving up and then for sharing with us. We all née that!
On September 12th, 1963 our first son Little Keith was born, on September 14th, 1963 he passed away after open heart surgery, I was 20. I am now 78, I still wake up each September 12th and say “Happy Birthday honey.” My husband was earning a whole $58.00 a week and we were trying to figure out how to pay the hospital and surgical bills and funeral expenses. Two weeks later we got what we thought was our first bill in the mail. It was a bill for both hospital and surgery and the surgeon and stamped on it in bright red letters were the words “Paid in Full.” That was the day God started healing my heart a little. I don’t have a plant to remember him but I do still have one of his mittens. I don’t know what people do at times like these without God and faith in their lives.
It takes faith to see good when something heartbreaking happens in our lives. Sharing also encourages others to appreciate those ” God moments”, thanks Sue.
It takes faith to see good when something breaks our heart. It is good to share those “God moments” that can encourage others. Thanks Sue!
Thank you for sharing this part of your life. It can be so hard to find light In the darkness. I am glad this lovely plant is part of yours. Nature at its best.
Sue and Neil, I can relate as can so many others. After burying two sons my heart is broken trying to understand and keep the faith…my mother said the Lord does not punish this way….keep the faith and he will keep you strong to endure the hardships that come .
I just read this comment again, Mary, about Little Keith. My heart goes out to you in this loss, but I love how God reached down through a caring surgeon to begin healing your heart.