Story of rose

This story will take us back… Back to a time so long ago that many do not remember; there are even very few trees that can recall! We are going to visit a place, not so different from the forest you might already know…

Here in this forest lived a young spirit, very much like a child. She lived her life inside of a seed pod and was very happy. Her father was a tree, sturdy and tall. Her mother was the vine that wound gracefully, with great strength, around him.

This young spirit was very special – much like you! Her heart was very big, filled with the spirit of love that she had been made from. When all of the seed pods went to bed at night, Father Tree and Mother Vine would sing a beautiful melody…

“Into the light, we grow…

Into the love, we bloom…

Darkness surrounds us now..

And the light will bathe us soon!”

Time began to pass, quicker and quicker it seemed! She began to watch as her brother and sister seed pods fell from their home, growing and blossoming into young trees and vines nearby. Yet she remained.

“Why have I not blossomed Father Tree?” she would ask.

His soft, yet powerful voice replied simply, “We spirits often need to take more time my beloved child.” And this was enough for now, so they sang their song…

“Into the light, we grow…

Into the love, we bloom…

Darkness surrounds us now..

And the light will bathe us soon!”

As the sun rose and fell, she would find herself awake in the night. There, she noticed that Moon had many faces. Sometimes, Moon would even disappear at night. This helped her to know that more time had passed. Brother and sister trees and vines had grown, now producing beautiful blossoms and fruits of their own. Yet she remained.

“Mother Vine?” she asked. “Why have I not blossomed?”

Gently, Mother Vine offered, “Inside of patience, you will find your growth loved one.” And this was enough for now, so they sang their song…

“Into the light, we grow…

Into the love, we bloom…

Darkness surrounds us now..

And the light will bathe us soon!”

One day, Grandmother Wind came for a visit. She liked to stir things up a bit! Singing and dancing for all to see. Many in the forest called her crazy...

Father Tree’s branches swayed.

Mother Vine’s leaves rustled.

Then, Grandmother Wind caught sight of the last seed pod, holding the last little spirit who had been waiting to grow.

“Ah, my child!” she bellowed, “Your heart has filled so full of love… and you have been quite patient, continuing to sing your lovely song.”

Just before the young spirit could show a smile, Grandmother Wind scooped her up and carried her away. She looked behind her and saw as Father Tree bowed. Mother Vine gently flowed in the wind – as if to blow the young spirit a kiss.

Up, up they went as she floated along.

“Grandmother Wind… Where are we going?”

She gave a gentle laugh and replied in a sing-song voice, “We must find your perfect place. A place where they will find you!”

They? She wondered.

“The two-leggeds,” she sang again joyfully! It was as if Grandmother Wind could read the young spirit’s very thoughts and continued on, “They are new to our forest. They will need much help and guidance from us all.”

Help? Guidance? Me?

“But Grandmother...” she almost whispered. “I have yet to grow. My brothers and sisters are strong trees and vines with plenty of fruits and blossoms to offer. Would they be more helpful to our new friends?”

Grandmother Wind whirled her around in circles and replied, “Yes! Yes! They will help too child. And you… So filled with love and so patient! You will help to strengthen their hearts, they will need it.”

On they floated as the young spirit swirled so many thoughts and feelings around inside.

Me?

Help?

I’m just a seed pod…

What do I have to give?

Two-leggeds? What is that?

Where will we go?

Just then, Grandmother Wind called out, “Aha! A beautiful place where they will gather and drink, just near our friend Water.” She turned to the young spirit in her seed pod and affirmed, “They just love Water, you know.” Grandmother slowed down to a soft breeze and began to rock the spirit gently in her seed pod. “This is where we part for now young one.”

She began to feel afraid,

“But Grandmother, how will I know what to do?

Grandmother Wind sang to the young spirit as she was placed on the ground, “There is a song inside of your heart, sing it and you will grow!” With a soft flutter through the trees, Grandmother Wind blew away.

There she was with only her seed pod… in a very different place as she sank into the soil.

It was colder, darker, and damp when the rains came. At first, she was frightened and felt so lost in the dark. But then, she heard the humming of her new friend Water as they began to surround her gently within the soil. Finally, her song came to mind…

“Into the light, we grow…

Into the love, we bloom…

Darkness surrounds us now..

And the light will bathe us soon!”

Over time, as the Young Spirit sang, the most magnificent things began to happen. She grew and grew! Soon, she was much bigger and strong enough to break through her seed pod shell with the help of Water, who had softened it. Further and further she stretched through the soil, gathering food with her roots.

One day, as she sang her song… on the very last verse, she stretched out wide and was able to see out of the top of the soil. Her old familiar friend Sun was there! High in the sky, warming the forest floor. She was so full of excitement that she just had to dance. The whole forest joined her in the celebration dance!

She sang and grew and grew and grew! Finally sprouting her very own blossoms, the bees and butterflies came to visit often. She sang along with the forest’s many birds. Even Grandmother Wind drifted by to bring news of the forest far and wide.

The Spirit was a beauty to behold in her plant form. She grew many flowers – pink, and red and white. Thought she loved this wonderful life in the forest, she wondered about her part in everything. Often, an important memory about the Two-leggeds that Grandmother Wind spoke about crossed her mind. And one day she felt it…

They are near!

Soon after, bushes rustled near her. Something was coming close.

Is this...?

Could it be time?

Just then a small creature held up by only two legs emerged, followed by many larger ones and a few more smaller, like the first. They peered around and headed for the stream near the banks of the Spirit’s home. Just as Grandmother Wind had said, these creatures seemed very fond of Water.

They drank, bathed, played, and rested for much time…

One day, a small two-legged finally approached the Spirit. She beamed a full bloom smile and said, “My sister! So lovely to meet you and your family. I am here to help – I love you so!”

The small two-legged sister breathed in the fragrance of her blooms and whispered to the Spirit, “Thank you for your gifts.” Turning to her family of two-leggeds, she shouted to with joy, “This one will help us!”

Now, we see the descendants of this loving plant friend all around us, both grown in gardens and wild, with a heart still so full of love. We call her, ‘Rose.’

The end.