Comfort Retards Growth

In a lush and verdant garden flowers bloomed. Trees danced their broad leaves in the breeze. Soft blades of thick grass tickled the toes. The Gardner, admiring his work, took a single seed from his pocket.
Digging deep into the soil, he gently lay the seed down. Dirt, potting soil, fertilizer and compost soon filled the seeds bed. A watering can moistened the soil and  the Gardiner waited.
As the sun bore down, the seed bed started to dry out. The Gardner, tending to his other plants, noticed the parched ground.With  watering can in his hand, he thought a loud.
"The sun is too hot, it will make the seed's growth too difficult." His shirt became shade. "The soil is too heavy, water can't reach the tiny seed."
Shovel fulls of ground were removed as the Gardner continued to worry. "This seed needs more air, I shall not cover him or limit his experience. I will bring him water, food, carry him to the greenhouse each night so he won't freeze and lather him with words and expressions of approval. My kindness will allow the seed to feel love. He will be my most beautiful creation ever."
"A wise old neighbor peered through his fence at the Gardner's work. His wrinkled brow furrowed as he listened. Shaking his head, the old neighbor walked away., Each day he watched as the Gardner tended the seed. Each day, the old man frowned and wondered.
Finally after 3 weeks, the neighbor called through the fence. "Good neighbor, what are you growing?"
"It is my most beautiful plant," he responded.
"I see no plant," the neighbor replied. "You have a seed, covered in moss. An empty hole and your garden is dying. I ask again, what are you growing?"
The Gardner glanced around his verdant landscape. Brittle leaves, dying vines, drooping petals and dead grass stared back. His seed, his most beautiful creation yet, sat in a muddy hole, rotting and ruined. As he sobbed into his mud caked hands, the neighbors voice returned. "Comfort retards growth. Yours, the garden's, and the seed's."

Make A Leap!

Yesterday was the culmination of one-fourth of a day for the last four years in Leap Day. It is an extra day none of us really plan for. At my house, its an extra day on the pay period for work. Its an extra day to get things done or its an extra day to not have to plan for.
Is it really?
We've been collecting the time every day. Are we accountable for the seconds and moments that don't seem important because its just a little bit. I think of how many times one of my kids has said, "Hey mom." and my response has been, "just a second..."
How many seconds have passed me by? Moments when I could've been spending time, or money, or effort on my most important things?
Yesterday, because it was the day after my birthday, my husband spent his precious moments with me!
He took the day off of work. We sat in the back yard and soaked up the sun. We lay in bed together, because it was warm. We spent an hour with a good friend of mine and his family, because we could. We looked for my sister-in-law's dog. We visited my favorite neighbor and her new baby and we ate pizza with my mom and step dad. It was awesome!
It wasn't the most exciting thing out there...it was better. It was a leap for me to just relax and be with the people I love.
Sometimes I get so worked up and worried about doing all the right things, being all the right places and keeping everyone moving that i lose my ability to feel the pure pleasure the world has to offer.
Sunshine after a cold winter. Friends and family who love us no matter what. the peace and beauty of everything God has created and given to us mere mortals. Life can be hard when we're running around like ants on a hot skillet. For one day, every four years, take a leap and just enjoy your blessings and love the world around you.
Or better yet...don't wait for one day a long time off. Do it today, for just a moment. Realize how good you have it and how blessed you are today!