Some time ago, the maintenance crew dug out the area between my building and the carport so that they could install new sod. While the sod’s been in for perhaps a couple months now, they never finished cleaning up under my stairwell. A clump of dirt remained sitting on the rocks, and a snapdragon plant grew out of that clump. Since I’ve lived here, there have never been snapdragons in that garden.

Lesson 1: When turmoil enters your life, it might seem ugly at the time, but you never know what’s going to blossom in place of what’s lost.

That clump of dirt isn’t in the ground. It sits on top of smallish landscaping rocks, and a concrete drain rests on top of it. The clump isn’t even large. Yet, still, a flowering plant more beautiful than any I planted on purpose in my garden has emerged.

Lesson 2: Thrive where you’re planted.