A Time of Renewal

Spring is in the air and with it comes the hope of renewal. There is nothing like the smell of newly turned earth after it has taken its winter rest. Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s get a move on and create something amazingly beautiful.” And then we stand back and watch the wonder. I think we are all beyond ready for the promise of spring 2021.

My sweet mother was a gardener extraordinaire. The yard of my childhood home was an array of vibrant colors and textures. Mom’s only shortcoming, to my young mind, was her love of weeding. She was obsessed with making sure that each and every invader who dared try to take root in her flowerbeds met with destruction. Weeding was a big job, so of course, she “invited” me to join her. My only sibling was ten years younger than I and was thus saved from this daunting task.

I swore when I grew up that I would never ask my children to be involved in such an endeavor. Well, I will be the first to admit that mom infected me with a love for gardening, and now, my children suffer the same path with pesky weeds that I once trod. In mom’s quiet, subtle way, she instilled in me a path and place to escape the worries of the world, become one with nature, and create a place of beauty and sweet repose.

Gardening is one of my passions and helps bring balance to my life. When I come home from work, change clothes, and grab gardening tools, my sweetheart knows that a bit of space and quiet time is in order. Gardening is healing on many levels. It is one of those things that brings great self-satisfaction while allowing time for honest self-reflection.

It has been fun to watch my daughters, as they have grown and married, carry on my love of the spring—their flower pots planted to overflowing with radiate color and their yards with flowerbeds (free of weeds) tended with love and care. My wise mother encouraged her resistant daughter to recognize the beauty of the world and to develop a place of peace and comfort, no matter where she grew up to live. I thank her each time my hands turn that first scoop of soil after its winter rest.

Last year brought many changes into our lives, some good and some very difficult. We had to stand back and look a bit harder to recognize the joy in our lives. This year has had a rocky start, and our road to normalcy appears to be a bit longer than we may have hoped. We are blessed to live in southern Utah, with its natural beauty and endless days full of azure blue skies. So, if we just take a minute to watch and observe, that hope of renewal will again manifest itself in the beauty and promise of spring.

About the Author

Connie enjoys working with local Hospice Groups and Veterans Associations. The military is very close to her heart, with her father being a Pearl Harbor Survivor, and her sweetheart retired Navy. Helping support local hospice groups is very rewarding for Connie, and she feels being a part of the Spilsbury team is an awesome opportunity. She is the mother of seven daughters and nineteen grandchildren, who are “the joy of her heart”. She loves being of assistance to those in our community who do so much for each of us.