The Survival of the Bonsai

In the spirit of new life and growth, I have a brand new desire to grow plants. (If any of you know me, you are well aware that I am the Grim Reaper of plants.) It began when my sister bought me a little bonsai tree when I was in the hospital. It was the only natural life I saw on a regular basis when I was on bed rest all summer. At the time my mental, emotion, and physical energy was spent on growing my babies. That mind-set continued after we came home from the hospital. When we came back home, my bonsai spent all winter sitting on my counter, neglected every day except when the girls pulled at its leaves. Even though I looked at it every day, the only lives I was interested in sustaining were my babies'. "After all," I thought, "my babies are much more important than a plant."

Then when spring came around, coming out of the emotional and spiritual gloomy haze (to put it lightly), I looked out the window at the tiny new buds on the trees. Seeing that every year always gives me some peace and hope. Then I happened to notice the sad bonsai, deprived of water and attention but still hanging on. As I touched its leaves and brushed off the dust, I thought about how my mom cares for plants. She talks to them, finds peace with them, and has always been able to bring a near-dead plant to flourish. I always admired her for that. As a new mother, and with the fear of my babies' survival behind me, I began to appreciate life in a whole new way. My responsibility for life also rose to a whole new level and I felt a desire to grow plants for the first time in my life.

Now, I know you're thinking "It's just a plant," but God talks to people in different ways. This time he used a little tree. My good friend, Vanessa, wrote on her Facebook wall, "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. (Anais Nin)". In a nutshell...I saw myself that day in something as simple as a bonsai tree. My spirit was lacking. It was dry and malnourished. It needed the attention. I cried out of remorse for not only neglecting myself, but I was neglecting my relationship with God, the one who gave me life, my babies life, and my plant life. All I am required to do is care for them.

Soon after this revelation, the bonsai began to grow new leaves as spring worked its magic (on all of us) and I began to take better care of it. When I water it, I am reminded not to forget about myself even as I spend most of my energy raising two beautiful baby girls. Then today I researched the meaning of the bonsai tree, and I read this:

"You will have to find patience inside of you and allow a tree to dictate how fast it wants to develop. And throughout all this process, you might discover something new inside of you. You might discover that indescribable thing that has captivated so many. With that, you just might find your own meaning of bonsai trees."

Recently I decided to try to grow plants from seeds. Emma's Easter basket had three starter kits: tomatoes, strawberries, and sunflowers. I also bought sweet basil. Every day I water the little pots and when I see the tiny sprouts poke through the soil, I am thrilled every time. Never fails. I guess being a mother and watching my seedlings grow, it's only natural to feel proud of my plants, too, and to finally feel a deeper connection to nature, to God, and to my "self" in a brand new way. Here is a passage to consider:

John 15
The Vine and the Branches
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.