I had spent the last hour cleaning the condo and getting it ready for a friend to show up for dinner. I completed the tasks and was happy that I live in a condo where cleaning is quick and visiting with visitors is better without all the time spent “readying” for them to show up. Living life simply is a good thing.
My friend showed up and we were chatting and laughing and then — that suddenly thing showed up — as it always does when I least expect it.
My friend turned to pick up a glass of wine when I saw it…the wilted plant hanging her leaves over and pleading for water was just behind her. I felt awful. First, I didn’t want my friend to see the ignorance of my plant care-taking (a little pride seeped out with that thought). Second, I was asking myself how I could have missed the plant pleading for water when I had dusted all around her? How could I have missed that pitiful thing?
I jumped up and my friend was stunned. I said, “Look at this poor thing. She’s dying for water. I feel terrible.” My friend laughed and said, “I don’t buy plants because of that.” (Smart friend!)
I placed the poor wilted plant under the bathroom sink and filled her soil with a flood of water. I hoped she wasn’t too far gone to be revived and redeemed. I left her there to soak in the sink filled with water hoping all was not lost.
Billie hugging a tree in the State of Maine.
I’m not a tree hugger (even though I have hugged a few trees in my lifetime) but I do take responsibility for anything I purchase that needs tender, loving care. Plants included.
I hate to lose a plant so I choose wisely and make sure they can survive my ignorance. I had kept this plant alive for a year and a half and she had brought me a lot of pleasure. Her greening my condo added life to it and today I almost killed her. Terrible me!
As I sat back down with my friend, I thought of the lesson I was learning through the plant now soaking in her own personal bath.
I was reminded of the fact that if you ignore something too long, it will surely die. That includes the following:
- Relationships you take for granted. The spouse who is always there and one day – is gone. Why? Because you failed to ignore the signs of the slow death happening in your marriage. Maybe it was one of you doing the ignoring or both of you played a role. Relationships take a lot of attention and tender loving care because people are fragile and hearts are easily broken.
- Health issues you push aside. People usually know their bodies well yet oftentimes put aside signs of a problem because they are too busy or they feel a doctor’s visit shows them as weak.
- Business issues that pop up through the bad behaviors of an employee. Maybe that employee has been with you a long time, or that employee is a family member or that employee is the best salesperson in the organization and yet is rude to the rest of the team. Business issues are business issues and at times we make them too personal and hurt others in the organization and the organization itself.
Whatever you are ignoring
will one day be your top priority.
You will either fix it or throw it away in the trash heap of life because you feel it is too far gone when you finally see the truth.
No matter what “thing” you are ignoring, I pray that today — the beginning of a new week — you will find a way to stop and look at it and decide “today’s the day to deal with this.” Maybe you don’t know you are ignoring something (but I bet you do) and if that is the case, ask your spouse or someone you trust in your business this question, “What do I need to know that I’ve been ignoring in our relationship or in the business that is damaging it’s survival?”
Wait for the answer. Let the silence do the heavy lifting. Don’t speak before they do. And when they speak, be calm and take it all in. This is the “water” that will revive that which you are ignoring.
It’s raining outside my condo and I’m thinking about all the grasses that will grow and the plants that will pop up to stand proudly for all to see. God knows that we need water to sustain life. And your life might need a new refreshment today too.
My plant popped her leaves back up and I apologized that my ignorance almost caused her untimely death. She forgave me and together we will enjoy the fruits of our labor together. I’ll be keeping an eye on her because I don’t want to be the one responsible for the death of this relationship. She can’t water herself so I’ll have to do it for her. Sometimes, you have to do all the watering and that’s okay — the results will be worth it!
It’s never too late, friend. Go fix that thing. Don’t ignore it any longer. Ignoring creates ignorance and I’m sure you don’t want to be known for that. May you realize that the gift of living water you pour into the lives of others will sustain you and give life, meaning and purpose to them and your relationship.
Peace, Love, Out…Your friend, Billie
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