The Secret Life of Leaves

A little while ago my mother shared something on her social media that I’d like to share with you. She said: “life is not governed by miracles but by principles.” (and no, she was not commenting on the validity of miracles).

She used that quote specifically with regards to the principle of sowing and reaping – basically, whatever you sow, you shall reap. Some people call it karma or say that the concept is based on Biblical principle.

I had a bit of a strange weekend that made me more introspective than usual. I was raised with the premise that whatever you send out into the lives of others will come back to you so, on the whole, I have tried my best to be nice to people as I would like people to be nice to me. Simple.

Admittedly it doesn’t always work – I’m only human after all and people will be people. However, irrespective of others treatment of me, (unless they’re being belligerent and my patience wears thin), I try my best to reciprocate with kindness, silence or at the very least, a smile (it can hide so much).

One of the greatest abilities that we as people have is the capacity to re-start; re-start your day, your week, your month, your year and even your life. With that in mind, this is the beginning of a new week.

Perhaps you had an exhausting weekend or trying Monday morning? Maybe something is weighing on your mind or someone is testing your patience?

Why not hit the restart button and take a look at things differently?

I’ll leave you with Tyler Perry’s leaf analogy. (I can’t say I’m a huge Tyler Perry fan but I can’t knock his work ethic and achievements). I’ve heard  it before – I say heard because the text originates from a play – but one of my best friends sent it to me this morning.

Let me know what you think:

LEAF PEOPLE
Some people come into your life and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season. You can’t depend on them or count on them because they are weak and only there to give you shade. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows in your life they are gone. You can’t be angry at them, it’s just who they are.

BRANCH PEOPLE
There are some people who come into your life and they are like branches on a tree. They are stronger than leaves, but you have to be careful with them. They will stick around through most seasons, but if you go through a storm or two in your life it’s possible that you could lose them. Most times they break away when it’s tough. Although they are stronger than leaves, you have to test them out before you run out there and put all your weight on them. In most cases they can’t handle too much weight. But again, you can’t be mad with them, it’s just who they are.

ROOT PEOPLE
If you can find some people in your life who are like the roots of a tree then you have found something special. Like the roots of a tree, they are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen. Their only job is to hold you up and help you live a strong and healthy life. If you thrive, they are happy. They stay low key and don’t let the world know that they are there. And if you go through an awful storm they will hold you up. Their job is to hold you up, come what may, and to nourish you, feed you and water you.

Just as a tree has many limbs and many leaves, there are few roots. Look at your own life. How many leaves, branches and roots do you have? What are you in other people’s lives?

THANK GOD FOR YOUR ROOTS! You may want to call them today or share this message with them and attach your own note saying, “thanks for being my root”.

By the way, don’t waste your time sending this to a leaf, they won’t get it anyway.