A simple truth

We have a few potted plants at home, rose, jasmine, betel nut leaf, turmeric and a few others. By the virtue of being in a pot, at a point in time, the plants were all withering away.

 

It saddened me to see that and yet I had no time to actually do something about it.

 

My wise mother-in-law gave me a suggestion. We use a few flowers for prayers in the Puja room and she suggested that instead of discarding them I might put them in the pots.

 

I followed her sane advice and everyday a different pot would get the flowers of the previous day.

 

Viola!!! in about 3 months, every plant in the pot was rejuvenated. All green and lush, growing beautifully, creeping up the compound and more! 

 

I was amazed and stunned, a part of me feeling proud that the plants bloomed so beautifully thanks to my action.

 

This brings me to the deeper thought in my mind. If the plants were a person – a friend, cousin or relative that we loved, have we knowingly or unknowingly neglected them?

 

They may be important to us, but have we thought about nurturing them, to me the opposite of nurture is taken for granted. 

 

A crime that I find myself guilty of. Several friends that I love, cousins whom I have not met in years, ex colleagues that I think about, but rarely try to connect with. 

 

Taken for granted is as bad as neglect. Are there not many in your own family whom you have taken for granted? Everything that they do, their actions are probably neglected due to paucity of time, or because we do not pause enough to count our blessings.

 

 

A simple act of just adding wilted flowers could nurture a plant enough to blossom within its restricted pot.

 

Think of the impact of a kind gesture, a loving word, a caring touch, some warmth and caressing could have on a relationship or a loved one that is taken for granted. 

 

I looked up the antonym of NURTURE, I found that the answer was neglect. It could wilt, wither, wane and ebb away, with no warning. 

 

A wonderful soul relationship could fade due to neglect. 

 

A tiny nudge to each one of us, to express that little love, show some care and nuture relationships which make our lives more meaningful.