Succulents

Succulents

Have you noticed the new trend with Succulents? I first noticed it when I was in California last Fall. They were everywhere. Well, you know, in all the cool shops, like 7 Blue Chairs, the vintage dream-come-true shop of my wonderful friend Chris (I-can-spin-ten-plates-in-the-air-all-at –once) Blue. She’s always the trendsetter, in fashion, in home décor, heck, in pretty much everything. She’s a one of a kind. And she’s my kinda girl.  Oh, did I mention that she has five cutey kiddos?

Chris is a succulent.

 Succulent? you ask. Maybe you’re thinking of something juicy and tasty, which is a good thought, but I’m talking about plants “with fleshy water-storing parts”. Can you tell that my Caroline showed me how to access the dictionary and thesaurus while typing? Wow. Now that is fun. I feel tech-savvy right now. Ok, it’s over. But it felt good for just a moment there.

Maybe you don’t know this little secret about me. This citified farmer’s daughter has a degree in Vocational Agriculture Education, with an emphasis on Horticulture…so I know my succulents.

They’re like cactus (are able to go a really long time without a drink of water) but they don’t have prickly parts. Just soft cool-looking leaves, full of life-giving water parts.

Cacti are super hardy and tenacious. Two excellent traits. For people with “black” thumbs, they’d  be a great choice. No fear of killing a cactus…. except by over-watering, of course They’re perfect in the desert. ( Infact  my all time favorite devotional is called “Streams in the Desert”. I have worn out two hard back copies. If you find yourself in a desert season of life, now would be a great time to pick up a copy.)

People are drawn to succulents. If ya happen to be people watching at a nursery… but who does that, but me?... just watch ‘em  and you’ll see people reaching down and giving a gentle almost affectionate little squeeze to those thick little leaves. They just beg to be touched. People are drawn to the life in them. They want to touch it. They want to own it. They want to know that in the hard, incomprehensible times they’ll have what it takes to make it through. They’ll have that reserve, like the succulent.

Cacti have the same ability to hold a reserve of water and survive in the “dry” times. But nobody’s reaching out and touching them. They don’t seem to represent life like their cousin the succulent. I think you know why. Cause they’re prickly . Hey, maybe they’re lonely too cause nobody wants to know them or touch them or emulate them.

Maybe you know someone(s) who is prickly. Maybe you’re prickly. I know I certainly can be prickly. Back in my hormonal days I was prickly quite often. But I’d give Mr. Ten Days fair warning. Watch out! Feelin Prickly today! Steer clear!

The genius is to not let prickly become your state of being. Which in this world of dishes and diapers and sleep deprivation, prickly can become the norm. Problems that take way too long to be solved, dwindling financial resources, raising teenagers, miscommunication with your “beloved”, etc. etc. etc. all add up to one prickly momma.

I guess the only way to change from a cactus to a succulent is to allow someone far enough into your heart and your life to begin the tricky and tedious  but loving task of removing the spikes from your very tender self. Maybe it’s a wise, trusted friend, or maybe it’s God Himself.

That, or a big dose of some really good hormone medicine