Bloom where you are planted . . .

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“And the day came when the risk (it took) to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
~Anais Nin

For years I resisted change because I was afraid that growth was always a painful process. I guess it had seemed that most of the lessons I had learned in life, and my opportunities to grow had always been accompanied with a lot of pain and misery. It has occurred to me this morning though that, in resisting change and growth, I was also wasting a lot of time, creative energy and emotion. Things that could be far better spent on other things.

Why does change come with such difficulty? Why do we allow ourselves to become stuck in ruts? I think the greatest stumbling block to freeing ourselves from these chains is fear. Fear of change, fear of stepping out into the unknown, fear of judgement, fear of failure . . .

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In giving in to our fears, I think we fail ourselves. I think we prevent ourselves from becoming and from being the very best that we can be. The whole reason for our presence here on earth is to grow and stretch, and to become the best that we can be. We cannot do that without expanding our boundaries and embracing change. If we think we "never can" . . . we truly "never will."

There is a scripture that says that in our weaknesses we are made strong. Who has not heard the story of the old man and the butterfly. An old man was once watching a butterfly struggle to emerge from it’s cocoon. As he watched it struggle frantically in it’s cocoon to free itself, he began to feel sorry for it. It was working so hard, and seemingly getting nowhere. He thought to help it a bit by taking a pair of scissors and cutting it free. When he was done . . . the butterfly lay there limp and unable to fly. In his eagerness to help, the man had missed the great secret to a butterfly’s strength . . . for it is in the struggle to free itself from the cocoon that the butterfly strengthens it’s wings enough to be able to actually fly.

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And so it is with life. It is through the struggles and the agonies we suffer that we too are made strong and beautiful. It is in the growth that we learn and evolve and become what we were truly sent here to become, that we can fulfil the measure of our creation. Change is not always bad. We need to exercise our wings and break free from our cocoons. It truly is a good thing.

I know it is really late in the year, but, if you can, try to find one perfect rosebud in your garden or at a flower shop if need be. Pick it and place it in a small vase on your desk or night table. Watch it bloom. “Each blade of grass has it’s Angel that bends over it and whispers, “Grow, grow.”’ We are likewise blessed. Let us listen to it’s voice and bloom where we are planted.

I am very late this morning. We got home quite late from our church meetings last night and so went to bed late and I didn't wake up until 7:30 this morning, so I must dash. I hope I'll be able to take a look at some blogs later today. We shall see how it all unfolds. Now I must get ready for my reading student and get things started on our supper tonight as the missionaries are coming and you know how very much I love to spoil them! Have a wonderful day everyone!

Here's a lovely dish to make when you have leftover chicken from a roast dinner and you are wanting a tasty way to use some of it up!



*Deep Dish Chicken Pie*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

A family favourite gleaned from a supermarket recipe booklet many moons ago.

1 single crust refrigerated pie crust

For the filling:
2 TBS butter
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 (10 3/4-oz) tin of condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
1/2 tsp summer savoury
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
4 cups cubed cooked chicken
1 (1 pound) package of frozen mixed vegetables thawed and drained
(I like the one with broccoli, cauliflower and carrots)

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6. Have ready a 2 quart casserole or 10 inch quiche pan.

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the celery and onion. Cook, stirring, until softened. Stir in the soup, milk, poultry seasoning, savoury, salt and pepper. Heat through, then taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Gently stir in the chicken and thawed vegetables. Pour this mixture into your dish.

Place the crust (which should be rolled out large enough to completely cover the dish) over top of the chicken mixture. Roll up edges to fit the top of the casserole and flute. Cut slits in several places to vent.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.



Cooking over in The English Kitchen this morning delicious Vanilla Spiced Breakfast Oatmeal.