The Ribbon in My Journal – Phyllis Hoffman DePiano

Blooming Amidst Life’s Seasons: Finding Beauty & Joy in Everyday Moments

Dear friends,

I am sitting at my desk overlooking my flower garden right outside the window. I concluded that flowers make summer endurable. The heat in the South can get to you, but the dewdrops on flower petals seem to calm everything. We all like certain parts of every season, but we have our favorite.

That’s the way life is. Certain parts we love more than others. We must find the good in all parts. That’s hard to do sometimes. When there is sickness, loss, or discouragement, it seems impossible at times. But my plan is to find something wonderful each day and dwell on it for a while. Today, it’s the bright yellow calla lilies, red lilies, and roses.

I find it fascinating that every winter, these flowers go to sleep and rest. When those first warm rays hit the garden, up they come. Each year, they multiply and bring more blossoms to enjoy. I have an emotional attachment to several flowers. My brother brought me a beautiful pink lily, and every year, it amazes me with its beauty. It’s in bud now and will be blooming soon. My grandson loves lamb’s ears, the soft gray plant that multiplies also. It feels like fur.

So, you are asking, what does all this have to do with life? We must make it a habit to look for the good around us every day. Find one thing that makes you smile and dwell on it. Dwelling on something causes us to slow down, ponder, and spend time resetting our outlook. It’s hard today with the uncertainty around us.

My mom reminded me years ago that flower bulbs and cuttings were shared with friends. During the Great Depression, no one had money for flowers, but some of the most beautiful gardens bloomed during that time. They concentrated on sharing beauty with others. I have flowers in my garden from my grandmother’s garden. Sharing beauty continues.

Today, I hope you find a beautiful moment to enjoy. Thank you all for the prayers and emails from you that bring beauty to me. Have a blessed day.