Daphne
The daphne plant at the end of my front step exploded into bloom this week. Her blossoms and perfume brought a welcome surprise in an otherwise gray and gloomy mid-winter week. I had forgotten to look for daphne’s sweet presence as an early reminder that winter will not last forever. All week daphne’s colors and perfume greeted me with each coming and going from my front door. On one occasion while I stood with my house key in hand and paused to breathe deeply the wafts of daphne-scented air, I heard the word “Grace”. Daphne felt like a grace being bestowed upon me. A gentle reminder that winter will be ending and the warm sun will be returning. Grace has been on my mind ever since that moment.
Grace is often associated with religion. While grace can be used in a religious context, I am embracing the following definitions of grace from its original Latin: gratus, meaning thankful and pleasing. Also this definition of grace from Merriam Webster: a temporary exemption: REPRIEVE.
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