When Life Gives You Lemons...

Wow.  Ever been inspired by just observing nature?  If you are anything like me, chances are YES...all the time!

My newest plant obsession is succulents.  Besides being beautiful, they are hardy, take barely any watering (good for someone who can't seem to remember to do anything besides brush my teeth everyday), and with some time and patience, will give you a beautiful flower display.  My Mother-in-law got me started with these amazing plants by telling me "YOU CAN'T KILL THEM."  Turns out, yes...yes I could.  Ever heard of "too much of a good thing?" I literally watered them to death.

Here is my life lesson from this week's observation...

Sometimes you feel just beaten down by life.  Sometimes circumstances are not what you would choose. Your "leaves" are being torn off.  Life is hard...and then you take another blow.

OR

You are busy. Life is full.  You add to "enrich" because to little is definitely wrong, and is there really such a thing as "too much?" All at once you begin to feel crazy- overstretched and drained.  Time to prune.

In either situation, you may feel beaten down or discouraged. Fret not.  Our God brings life from death.  It is when we fully die to ourselves that we can freely live (in HIM).  Here is the bible verse that comes to mind-

  John 12:24 

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."

My sweet succulents in my window remind me of this.  Don't be discouraged when you have to cut back.  It is for your good and probably the good of your entire family.  It is quite possibly during this time that you will see things you are already doing start to really flourish and bloom.

For those going through trying times- take heart.  It is through the fire that gold really shines.

 Be encouraged.  Good things come by pruning back-Whether the pruning comes by our choice or not.  Press on. GROW.


Object Lesson err... Activity for kids:
Watch one form of succulent propagation.

1. Pull off a couple leaves from a succulent plant.  Let the leaves air dry for a few days. This is essential because ff you put them in soil right away, they’ll absorb too much moisture and rot. They are ready when the pulled off tip feels hardened or "calloused over."

2. Fill a container with soil that drains easily. Put the leaves on top of the soil. Place the cut or pulled leaves on top of the soil. Water sparingly until baby plants appear. (You can also just pick the leaves and forget about them on a plate on the counter like I did.  The baby plants and roots will appear in a couple weeks all by themselves :)

3. Now relax for a few weeks. Soon little roots will sprout from the ends of the leaves. Water sparingly until you see baby plants forming. Succulents store water in their tissues, so they don’t need too much.

4. Let the plantlets grow until the mother leaf starts to wither.  Move the leaves with the babies still attached into new pot-or leave where they are if you want it right where it is. The mother leaves will eventually fall off.