A White Iris

Like many white flowers, white irises are symbols of purity, innocence, and sympathy. They’re popular wedding flowers as well as sympathy flowers.

My neighbor shared a photo of a happy surprise: a reward of  her waiting  for a transplanted white bearded iris to bloom. Four years it took!

That was a long time.

Her comment got me thinking, though: Patience is such a part of gardening. 

Whew — some days I feel like I have had no idea of what patience is — much less what it means.

I get so frustrated because nothing seems to happen the way I want in the time I imagine it should take

OK. I am prone to a bit of hyperbole. 

Seeing that lovely bloom, though, and hearing how long my friend waited while tending the bloom-less plant revived me.

I am glad for her patience —  and an image of  something beautiful and right on its own time — a white iris!

That white iris also called to mind an old Psalty song, In His Time.

Singing it, with little children growing up in mind, sounds different than singing with an autumn’s garden in mind.

Then I thought of another Psalty song; it’s as good for seasoned citizens, as it is for kids rushing to grow up: Have Patience!

Half the annoyances of life will disappear if one is only patient under them. Almost all the other half will go the same way if one does not worry over them. ~Frank A. De Puy, “Happiness in the Home: Be Patient,” The New Century Home Book, 1900

For all the people I love who seem to be late bloomers –myself included– the flower was quite a tonic — reminding me to follow my own great advice!

Patience is better than wisdom: an ounce of patience is worth a pound of brains. All men praise patience, but few enough can practise it; it is a medicine which is good for all diseases, and therefore every old woman recommends it; but it is not every garden that grows the herbs to make it with. ~Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892), “On Patience” (John Ploughman)

I know this old woman has recommended patience more often than she practiced it. (Putting Myself in Time Out for Losing my Charm) 

Think carefully about what I ask God for . . .

The quotes about patience are from the QUOTEGARDEN.com