The Ladies and myself decided to choose The Importance of Patience as the topic of the week. Lord knows this is a subject that I learned a lot about and that I am very thankful that I learned about! In recapping, week one we let go of all the things that were blocking our blessings to allow space for the things we want to become available to us. Now in week 2 we’re going to exercise the patience required in anticipating the harvest for the seeds we sow in 2015! Below are a few take away’s! Be Inspired!
Inspirational Story on Patience – The Chinese Bamboo Tree
A great lesson of patience, persistence and hard work can be learned from the story of planting Chinese bamboo.
Unlike most other plants, Chinese bamboo is quite unique on its own. When this bamboo is planted, watered, and nurtured for the whole growing season, it does not outwardly develop even just for an inch. Then, on the next growing season, the farmer must continue to irrigate, fertilize and care for the bamboo tree and yet nothing happens – it fails to sprout just the same.
And as the seasons go in and out, the farmer has to continue caring for the bamboo for four consecutive years. What could really be discouraging is the farmer has nothing substantial to demonstrate for all of his labor in caring and growing the tree. Four lonely years of hard work and caring and yet you have nothing!
And then on the fifth year…
the bamboo tree shoots up to more than 80 feet all in just one growing season! Now, that is a very astonishing demonstration of the power of nature!
Now, you might be thinking: Did the small tree loll inactive for four years and then just decides to grow dramatically on the fifth? I think the answer is quite clear for us to see. The little tree was actually developing itself underground by expanding its root system to make it tough enough to sustain its impending external growth in the fifth year and even beyond.
Now, had the tree failed to build up a strong and able underground foundation, it would be impossible for it to keep on growing when it is time to sprout outside into the outside world.
The same principle is true for people. People, who patiently toil towards worthwhile dreams and goals, building strong character while overcoming adversity and challenge, grow the strong internal foundation to handle success, while get-rich- quickers and lottery winners usually are unable to sustain unearned sudden wealth.
Had the Chinese bamboo farmer dug up his little seed every year to see if it was growing, he would have stunted the tree’s growth as surely as a caterpillar is doomed to a life on the ground if it is freed from its struggle inside a cocoon prematurely. The struggle in the cocoon is what gives the future butterfly the wing power to fly!
Learn lessons of patience and hard work from the Chinese bamboo!
If you missed any of the calls this week or you’re interested in recapping some great inspiration, feel free to playback the calls at your convenience!
Playback number: 605-477-3099
Access code: 1063557#
Reference numbers: Monday- 75, Wed-76, Fri-77