The Strength of the Roots

Over this weekend we began taking out the different flowers that are now dieing. The frost, that our area has been hit by, has killed some of the plants. Others have simply run their course for the year.

I would like to describe one of the plants that has given us much pleasure over this spring, summer and early fall. This plant is my wife’s Marigolds. They are amazing to say the least.

One of the rows of Marigolds was the first to come out as the weathering had been fairly heavy. I grabbed the plant and pulled. It came out with some effort. In my hand was a plant that was about 12 inches across and it had a stem of about one a half inch in diameter. The base of the stem where it entered the ground was a maze of roots that spread to about one half of the top part of the plant. There was over six inches of roots in all directions and below. I suspect that they actually went much further in that the smaller ones broke off as I extracted the plant.

This Marigold came from the tiny seed way back in the spring. A little mite of a seed carried within it all the ability to become the glorious flower that edged our yard this summer. What power and what intelligence packed into this small wonder of a plant.

Through the summer this plant had produced hundreds of blossoms, each unique in colour and shape. But as each blossom died and was dried, within it was the bundle of new seeds ready for planting next year. From one plant alone I am guessing that you may well have enough seeds to populate our entire backyard next season. We had perhaps close to a hundred Marigolds this year.

The Marigold’s strength is in many areas. One of the strengths is the hidden part. The root system is strong. It didn’t begin that way however. When Alida, my wife, placed the first seeds in the ground they were all closer together. After they reached about one inch in height she gently lifted them from their birth place and replanted them in other areas – further apart to allow the plant to grow as it did so well. The six inch ball of roots started from the one small and delicate root stem over six months before.

Over the summer the wind and rain had battered our yard. The large trees lost fairly large branches in two storms. The long grasses that are in the flower garden took beatings and the small flowers close to the ground scattered here and there were pounded almost flat by the heavy rain at times.

Through it all the Marigolds alone stood as stocky soldiers declaring the ability to be beautiful and hardy. Nothing shook them. The roots and the stem that they developed quickly at first had carried them through the entire summer.

Even in its fall death and eventual removal from our garden, the Marigold still declares its life and ability – if you are willing to listen as you watch.

Pause here…
Over these past months I have been drawn into another family as we together have visited their mother. She is 89 now and has lost her resilience and vibrancy that once adorned her life. Yet as I have met with her in her hospital room, listened to her stories and watched her react to her surroundings, I have seen the evidence of the roots. Even in her old age there is a beauty in her life.

The other day she pointed out the photo of her great grand child. It was tacked to a small bulletin board in her room. The pride in her description of this little one was beautiful. Though it was just a photo of a little one that lives far away it represented what she was.

The child’s picture represents a future that makes all great grandmothers happy. “We will go on from here.” This new seed will carry on a family and a memory. And it only happens with strong roots.

I have witnessed this kind of family strength over and over again as I attend to the last days… walking through the months of waiting for our goodbyes to be given. Time and time again I see the great strength of the roots of the life in front of me. The power and ability that has been maintained was supported by deep and strong roots.

A simple fact about all roots in our plants or our lives… few people can see them and give little thought of what is buried below the rich foliage above.

A Bible verse written long ago concerning God’s chosen people… says…

Jeremiah 29: 11-14
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD,”

God knows and has carried us all the way along – through storms and tragedies – through sunshine and strength. Through it all our lives are better. Our roots go deep and are the source of our lives. Wow! What a thought.