How Does Your Garden Grow?

March 25, 2014

Spring is here.  What a beautiful natural way of reminding us of the cycle of life.  Old growth still present, soon returning to the earth with warming temperatures nurturing new life set to build on the foundation of all that came before it.

 New buds are on trees and small spikes of green emerging from soil showing their grandest efforts to join our world.  Take the time to think about all that needs to happen just to reach this stage.  Soil surrounding the seed requires warmth to activate minerals and nutrients, it needs to allow oxygen to seep in, water to saturate and carry even more nourishment.  With all this support, it is important to remember that tiny seed must utilize all of this “help” all on its own to create its own beautiful life.  Reminds me of grieving individuals.  All going through Spring, all growing at their own pace.

Every living thing is so unique

Seeds need to be planted at different depths to feel rooted, nourished, and energized by its surroundings is different for each one.  Every grieving person needs a different amount of interaction, support, and attention from our environment.

 Grace, Grace, and more Grace

 Show grace towards me

Like tiny seeds, we may look similar on the outside but are so unique inside.  When I think of myself and my sister, I’m a Shasta Daisy, she’s an Echinacea flower.  Echinacea seeds thrive planted at a 1”, slowly reaching its height with a steady mix of both full and partial sun. Where a Shasta Daisy only wants to be planted at 1/8”, growing fast, yet not as tall, requiring full sunlight.  Both losing a father, we needed different amounts of care from our environment.  I found my safe haven in my extended family while her young school friends supplied the best nourishment for her.  My friends may have been concerned about my lack of interaction with them, but I sought what I needed from those who would supply it best for me.  After some time I opened up to what my friends had to offer.

At different stages grievers require different people.

Not like a changing of the guards, I didn’t ever need to replace their support but open up to allow more people.  It takes an enormous amount of energy for a “seed” to convert its environment into something beautiful so give grieving people the grace of time.  Grief work is exhausting to say the least!

Have grace for myself

I needed to give myself grace.  There is something so wonderful about being comfortable with whom you are, that what you are doing for yourself at that moment is the right thing to be doing.  Having people around you that understand this and feel the same way about their own involvement is all that grieving people ask for.

The serenity of understanding “Just be there.  I’ll pull as much as I need from you.  That is all.”

Have grace for those helping me

Not every person I love is a gardener, I’ve heard all sorts of inappropriate things coming from my community.  Return that good grace back to them with an open mind that they probably have no idea what they are doing, overwatering, forgetting to weed, pouring on fertilizer at wrong times of the year.

Not everyone is born knowing what to do so throw expectations out the window, surround yourself with love sit back and let it be.



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Judith Szabo

Everything was so organized and pertinent to what we needed. Everyone we met was kind, courteous and very helpful during our emotional and challenging time. Thank you so much.

Heather Mayne

They were so prompt on answering any questions and changing things. They were prepared and respected any religious decisions. The process was so seamless and made easy in such a high stress situation.

Tanya Kohar

In the past 2 years Springfield has helped us through the death of my Mother and my Father. Their response and help allowed us to focus on the remaining family rather than worrying about details of the funeral and all the notifications that are required upon a death.

Terry Eldridge

The atmosphere has been nothing but professional during times of grief.  After the passing of my mother, the staff coached me on the next steps and looked after filling in all the government forms that I needed to sign, which took a huge burden off my mind at the time.

Donald McClure

Everyone was so helpful and kind.  There was no pressure.  They provided exactly what we needed.

Diane Greenwood

From the time I called to the completion of all the services, I received compassionate, attentive and professional care.  There was a sense of caring from each staff member.  I was turning over my Mom to their care and I felt very comfortable with everyone.  I felt heard and never felt pushed into any decision.

Katherine Lewis

I have always found the team at Springfield Funeral Home to be VERY caring, kind, considerate and helpful.  I have and will continue to recommend them to anyone who asks which funeral home would I suggest they use.  No other funeral home I have dealt with even comes close to Springfield Funeral Home.

Ethna Tutt

Right at the onset, I was made very comfortable, there was no pressure.  I was made to feel as if I was the only one they had to serve.

Frances Baum

Everything that was arranged for us was perfect.  Our loved one, husband, father, brother was treated with respect.  Thank you for making this difficult time a little more acceptable via your staff’s obvious caring and respect.

Jacquelene Bluschke