Tender-Hearted

“I must have flowers, always, and always.”― Claude Monet

“Just pray for a tough hide and a tender heart.” – Ruth Graham

May you be both tender and tough, more tender though.
Tender to experience all that life brings.
Tough to keep going back, beyond loss and disappointment, to deep waters, current and flow.
Blessings and burdens woven together, with a focus on the blessings.
Sure-enough footed to take the next step, albeit afraid.
Resilient to go beyond momentary setbacks and roadblocks, continuing in uncertainty.
Shaped, weathered, softened.
With an affinity to growth, to beginning again and again.
A rock smoothed by the waves, the ebb and flow.
A seed breaking dirt, pushing to bloom, reaching for the sun.
A caterpillar transformed through time and struggle to the floating butterfly.
A tree rooted deep, bending with the wind, not breaking.

“To be strong, and beautiful, and go round making music all the time. Yes, she could do that, and with a very earnest prayer Polly asked for the strength of an upright soul, the beauty of a tender heart, the power to make her life a sweet and stirring song, helpful while it lasted, remembered when it died.” – Louisa May Alcott