The Desert Flower

                    The Desert Flower

Out beneath the blistering desert sun a plant grows.

Though many shun this plant, it has a very special secret.    

Many never find the secret because they're afraid they'll

get pricked and so they turn away.

But, among the needles and pins of the cactus a blossom grows.

This flower is very unique as it blooms only a few times a year. The colors vary from scarlet red to violet.

The honeybees go mad on her wine. They stay within her flowery petals sucking nectar until their hunger is satisfied.           

                          

                              Thus many people in life are like the cactus. Because of their            

                          surroundings they protect themselves with shyness, vanity, or pride. But, 

                                        underneath, they hide a special sweetness.

          May we not turn way our hearts from them because we just see thorns,

    but rather be like the honeybee, which was able to look past the thorns and see the flower.

                  

                                                                                                    - Kathy Budge

   

   This was written by a high school student that had been through foster care, therapy, and multiple families. This was her message she wanted to share with people. Although it is not the most well done poem I have ever heard, I feel it sends out a certain message we all should remember. Working with my students, I see other students, teachers, and other faculty members only staring at their thorns. If only they knew what truly existed. 

One of my New years resolutions this year is to look for only the good in people, no matter how they treat me, or others. There is good in everyone, and we all have a "flower" to show.   (this is probably corny for some, but it means something to me.... so think about it)