The blue hydrangeas,
They grew and grew and grew
Spilling across doorways and sidewalks paths –
They were ready
For a journey
And so we transplanted them around the corner,
Under the kitchen table
window. The blue hydrangeas sulked
In the newness
Wouldn’t show themselves for more seasons
than seemed
seemly.
We hoped in things we didn’t see
Watered with faith for roots
planted true
“Give it time,” my husband spoke
Beside me
“4 more weeks,” suggested the nursery man
Before it was time to give up
Until one day, just before reaching for the shovel
Just before giving up
a chopped chive-size
piece of green
stuck on what seemed
a dead stick
The piece of green grew slow
Was joined by more pieces
Of green
Until it a few seasons later,
It stretched stalks of green
Just growing
Growing
Not ready
not ready yet to bloom
Until just the right
season
When roots reach deep and the stalks
Multiplied
reach high
Little clusterbuds of no color
One day
Open blue
blooms
You know, if we’d left that hydrangea bush by the garage door, it would have been limited, unable to reach its full potential. By transplanting it, giving it more room to grow and become, it will be more than it ever could have before. It’s been a tough transplant/journey for my hydrangea – but I live in faith of something I don’t see – that it will grow bigger, bloom more, have a greater impact – kind of like God’s plan for me and mine!
More on blooming where you’re planted:
I love this story! This is a great example of what it means to bloom, and to never give up as we wait. 🙂
“until a few seasons later…” it does take time and sometimes the waiting is not fun but oh so worth it! 🙂
What a great example of blooming and what it’s really all about! 🙂
i really love where you went with this, friend. great helpings of truth sprinkled through every paragraph.
super lovely seeing you bloom on this journey …
;-}
Oh, I really like the direction you went with this prompt. What a wonderful way to express how blooming where we are planted is a journey. We may not see the blooms at first but we have faith in Him. Loved this. Blessings.
I’ve had a few of those transplants myself. Thank you for this perspective from the other end. I’m hoping that I’m in that last year of the seemingly dead stalks sticking up and getting ready to start growing. That you used hydrangeas makes me even happier to have read. Blessings!!
“a few seasons later” … it certainly can take a few seasons to bloom. To truly bloom where we are planted. We experienced this for years due to a church transition … new Pastor, new name, new place … it was hard, very hard and just last September we almost gave up and moved on. But God … =)
You’re piece spoke to me about that, a confirmation to me about how God works our Faith to a thing of Trust.
Thank you. Blessings to you.
-Andrea
I love hydrangeas so much. They are tough. Oh and peonies too! Glad your flowers are blooming again. Happy FMF!
Hydrangeas are my favorite! However, they don’t do very well in the desert climate of Phoenix. But most of all, I love reading your story of transplanting the hydrangeas so they could grow. What a great analogy to our faith walk. Loved it!
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Love this. As always. I have one plant. I named him Herman. I think he’s been around for 5 years now. He’s had maybe 6 blooms and hasn’t grown an inch. He’s a very sad plant. I need to transplant him. Maybe he’ll spill over! I think I must have been transplanted several times! 😉
Isn’t it crazy how we are resistant to transplanting (I know I am–I’m kind of like your sulking hydrangea 😉 ), yet how patient God is with us? Thank you for your beautiful words.