A plant can be just the thing needed to brighten up a room or give that added touch to a needed space in a room. It is said that plants are good for the air in your home or apartment. I love plants, I think I have that desired green thumb when it comes to caring for and nurturing houseplants. What I love the most is the color that the right plant will bring to your loving space, there is something about just the right hue of the color of space that adds some distinctness to either the individual or the individual area.

Watering those beautiful plants can be a challenge when you’re gone for the weekend or even longer and I would hate to see all of that hard work and attention wither up and die when my plants aren’t watered. Some plants can be a bit annoying in that; they take away from the space they occupy instead accentuate it. This is why having the right plant is essential, but nothing is more annoying than having a plant that will not respond to the care and attention that you give it. Is it the soil? Too much light, too little? Perhaps the plant would like to hear some music, and this will keep the leaves from yellowing (not!).

It seems that when one leaf or pedal begins to brown, the others are soon to follow and quickly brown. Sometimes adding some fertilizer to the soil seems to help, the plant seemingly thrives but then the leaves start to wilt and brown even faster. If these perennials could speak, what would they say to me? If they could somehow indicate what it is, they would need, I could make their existence better. What is this Rose feeling? After, all this time, it’s still a bud.

Botany may not be a strength of mine, but for those of that have an attachment to plants we seem not to know when to give up. Our plants seem to bring us a little peace, and they add to our relaxation when at home, but there comes a time when we have to ‘Stop Watering Dead Plants” (Tammy Allen 2016). No matter how much or little sun your give them when they brown and begin to dry up, no amount of water, time or attention will revive it.

Likewise with some relationships and friendships; some people in our lives can be like dead plants. There was a time when they bought color and a little peace into our lives. It seemed the relationship was flourishing, but then their leaves started to brown. Just like the plants, we are continually watering them with our time and attention, fertilizing them with good conversation and they bring nothing into our lives (except for the thorns) but take much out. Just as we cut away the brown edges of the leaves or remove the dead leaves that sap the strength of the plants we care from, we need to remove what is seemingly dead from the everyday living, that also robs us of our power.

Just as we could be watering the dead plants in our lives, we too can become that dead plant. Better soil will help us, moving to a place where we can get the light we need for growth is essential. I love metaphors; they have the power to paint a clear picture of an idea, a concept or a thought and drive home the intended point or meaning.

Just as this article came about because a friend shared an encouraging metaphor that breathed some thought and life into my day, the results are in the words of this article. Stop watering dead plants, get rid of them, especially if you’ve been watering them for some time and their leaves are yet brown.

Going Against The Grain