A Story of Hope and Survival

“Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope”

I wish I had taken a picture of my yard after the 16 degree night.  Desert plants (and desert girls) aren’t meant to withstand such a cold spell.  Many of my plants, I was sure, were not going to make it.  As we moved into spring, some, surprisingly, began to show signs of life, leaves, flowers and growth were shown.  Others, their branches looking dead and lifeless, brought sadness to my heart when I looked at them brown and freezer burnt. 

I had planted the majority of plants in my yard.  It was a bare lot when I moved in, except for two old trees and 2 saguaros.  Since then, my mom and I worked to xeriscape, using as many native, or desert adapted plants as we could.  It was my own little Garden of Eden in the desert.  Then, this winter, several nights of below freezing weather threatened my little paradise.  I did what I could in covering a few, but mostly, I had to let the other fend for their self.  They had to be able to be exposed to the elements; it didn’t make sense to wrap them all every night.  They had to be able to adapt to what came, the intent was for my landscaping to be beautiful, but low maintenance.  I must let the ones that were older, and more settled in withstand the cold.  But it broke my heart, when I thought they didn’t survive.  I still watered and cared for them, and continued to have hope that they would overcome and survive. 

Today as I was watering my plants, I was surprised to see that even though, it was late growth, there was new growth.  Not at the top where the leaves were, but at the bottom.  The tops were too far gone, so the plant started anew, with vigor and tenacity.  It doesn’t seem to care that it has been hurt, that it has been declared dead and ugly.   It pulled from its roots and has exploded.  I imagine it singing away as it is growing, whistling a happy tune, refusing to let anyone or anything trample its progression.  It doesn’t care about the past, it doesn’t care how low its been laid, it doesn’t care about what it used to be, it is heading up and out and taking over those old, frozen branches with new life, vigor and purpose.  'I will survive" it says, "I will be just as beautiful as before, or maybe even better, because now I know, I can take on the blistering heat, the freezing cold, and the inconsistent watering of Sara. "

I look forward with even more joy now, to look out my kitchen window, where these plants are, and watch the growth, and with anticipation wait for the first flowers, and see the birds coming back to this plant.  My heart will be even fuller as I look at it, because I know what it has survived, what it has overcome, and how it took on the world, despite the label and low expectations that were placed upon it.  It had will, it had hope, it believed.  May we all look at ourselves, and set our own expectation and approach life with tenacity and spirit. May we continue to nurture the growth and development of others. Life is short, live, love, hope and laugh with all your heart.  Know that God is watching over and loving and hoping for you.  He loves his us, even if we have to be exposed to the elements.  We get the opportunity, with his watering and love, to show what we can do, to demonstrate our hope and determination.

Love to you all.

Ether 12:4 "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." (from the Book of Mormon)