The Azaleas were in bloom the first week in March. The fragrance and color brought joy to our hearts. By the middle of March they were withered and gone. No, their season hadn't ended, but our temperatures dropped below thirty. The flowers couldn't handle the cold.
When I saw the wilted azaleas while driving my children, my heart felt heavy. There was nothing that could have been done to save all the azaleas. I saw some people covering plants in our neighborhood to keep the warmth in over those two chilly nights. But I simply cannot imagine seeing large coverings over eight-foot tall shrubs growing along the sides of busy streets. It made me think about our lives. So often we put ourselves out there to blossom in the sun. We feel the freedom in the warmth and spread our branches to the sky. And look! We do what we hope to do. We grow. We shine. We show others our beauty! But sometimes winter weather comes out of nowhere. We just aren't strong enough. We aren't designed to be out in the harshest of temperatures, but it happens. Sometimes, it just happens. Sometimes our lives get dealt the worst of conditions. And we fizzle. Without notice, our bright and cheery dispositions whither to the ground below. If we're lucky, there will be someone that takes notice. They will see that one day we are open and vibrant and the next day we have withdrawn from life itself. They may not be able to do anything to help us, but they will take notice. They will be saddened with us. They will join us in our grief and hurt and pray for our revival. One thing I noticed while driving past the previously beautiful flowers: the petals were still on the bushes. That may not seem significant, but if you know azaleas, you might think differently. When the azaleas are done, the season over, the time to die comes, the flowers drop from the bush. The delicate petals cover the earth like poorly made romance novel boudoir scene. The flowers are not gone. Perhaps they will live once more. Only time will tell if they will recover, but I pray they do, as I pray we all do when the unexpected cold front comes.
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