Valentine's Day 30 years ago

I have often been described as a person who is blunt, whose timing is not the best. But 30 years ago, I shared an office in a military police company at Fort Bragg with another lieutenant who I thought was a really nice guy and a great leader for his soldiers. He was a good friend to me, and I wanted to get him something for St. Valentine's Day that would let him know that I thought he was special but not be too gushy. He did have a fiancée after all. (And I was not looking to steal him because that is not who I am. Their relationship ended that weekend but had nothing to do with me.) I made a special trip to the PX and standing in front of the chocolate options I picked out a ladybug. When I got back to our office, I slid the red and black foiled ladybug into his top desk drawer. He soon found it and thanked me - nothing memorable. We got married a year later. That tiny movement, that timid little spark started a beautiful, blazing fire that is still burning brightly.

Why am I sharing this? Because I realized this morning as I was recounting this memory with my darling husband that that action was not blunt at all. I was cautious; I was respectful; and yet I knew I had to acknowledge who he was to me in some small, friendly way. Not everything has to be a LEAP of faith. This started with me putting my big toe in the water. And it is exactly how I started growing willows and now also other woody cut stems. I simply took a small, seemingly insignificant action and let God do His thing.

Put your big toe in the water today. And... if you want to put a bouquet of pink pussy willows on your table on a future Valentine's Day then order Mt Aso unrooted cuttings!

Happy Valentine's Day!