Storm Damage

A few weeks ago, the last remnants of the latest Gulf hurricane came through.  It didn't bring any severe weather to the Memphis area, but it did bring a lot of rain and strong winds.  When it finally blew on, I noticed all the damage the winds had done to my roses...petals everywhere.  Also, a potted hibiscus that was covered in blooms had been blown over and rolled to a stop several feet from its place on the patio.  The was extensive bloom carnage and I was upset!  These beautiful blooming plants are around our pool & patio area, over which my kitchen window looks.  I've spent many pleasant moments gazing at the riot of color all the many various plants make while rising dishes and loading the dishwasher.  But now after the storm, all I saw was RED!!!!  I fussed and fumed over the destructiveness of the storm and hoped my garden would rally before the Autumn temps came.

To my surprise, not only did they rally, but within a week or so, they looked even better then they had before the storm.  It reminded me of the great ice storm that hit the Southeast in the early '90's.  Our three year old weeping willow on the corner of our yard was so weighted with ice that it was literally uprooted.  The whole neighborhood grieved its sure demise.  We even had people we didn't know stop their car and holler their condolences over the beautiful baby tree.  After the ice melted, my husband walked out to survey the damage up close.  He told me that it was about 85% uprooted and was going to dig it out, cut it up and dump it.  But I begged him to give it a chance since Spring was just a few weeks away.  Well, he wasn't thrilled with the idea, but he and a friend worked all Saturday trying to get it upright and firmly staked in the ground.  And would you believe it not only lived, but grew more lush and more quickly than it ever had.  It was a joy to the neighbors and a wonder to me. To this day, over 15 years later, someone will occasionally comment on that winter and the miracle weeping willow.

Well, of course, to you gardeners out there, these stories are not surprising.  Plants thrive if "wounded" correctly...commonly know as "pruning"!!  Are you seeing the marvelous lesson the Heavenly Father gave us through His plants?  Are you being pruned by some sudden and/or violent storm in your life?  Are you, like I was, seeing red and inwardly hoping to just survive..
forget about thrive, through the storm damage?  Take heart....our Father is a master planter.  He is pruning us in order for a more vibrant, healthy person to develop!  Just endure the  "dead-heading"!  He will create beauty out of the storm damage!