Encouraging Blossoms of Achievement

The tiny dogwood sapling was only a twig when my motherplanted it years ago. At age four, with a red wagon andbucket, I was happy to carry water to anything thatgrew, even to the full grown, flowering apple trees inmy grandfather's orchard.

Thrilled with the promise of a flowering dogwood, Ihappily nourished the new sapling with both water andanticipation. Yet weeks later, to my naive impatience,there were no flowers.

Greek philosopher Epictetus, said, "No great thing iscreated suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or afig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer youthat there must be time. Let it first blossom, thenbear fruit, then ripen."

Eventually, we get back what we give away. Today, aftercaring for my dogwood tree year after year, itbrightens the spring with glorious blossoms andflowers.

There is the potential for beautiful blossoms withineach unique human being. Like the myriad varieties offlowering plants, some will bloom early, some later.Both are on schedule. Yet people need inner confidence,faith, and the nourishment of encouragement to thrive.

Ask yourself: "How can I give to a special person, mybelief in their potential? When the blossoms open, whatwill they look like?"

By sharing with others our faith in their abilities, wenourish their hopes and dreams. We begin to see ouracknowledgments mirrored back with magnificent blossomsand abundant fruit. Those we care about will grow torealize their potential, and nourish others with theirjoy, faith and self-confidence.

One of my favorite quotes was written by Ralph WaldoEmerson who said, "Thought is the blossom; language thebud; action the fruit behind it."

As Mr. Emerson suggested, take the action, speak thewords, and think with vision, faith and conviction.When the time is right, the blossoms you're envisioningnow will open. They will be beautiful.