Sunday Sentiments

 

Earlier this year, one of our tenants moved out rather abruptly, leaving behind things she didn't want anymore. It was a tough season for us as we worked through all the what-ifs, whys, and...the cleaning up and resetting of her apartment.

One of the things she left was a small, sadly neglected plant that hadn't been watered in quite some time. Most of the leaves had shriveled up and fallen off, and how the whole thing escaped being taken to the dumpster is truly beyond me. 

Sarah decided it was worth a try to revive it, so she carefully trimmed off the dead pieces, cut it back to almost nothing, and watered the little bit of dirt left in the bottom of the plastic planter. 

And you know what? Over these last few weeks and months, that little plant has begun to thrive! New growth with bigger, shining leaves began to appear, and I realized that thing was really outgrowing its little plastic pot!

So last week, while Ryan and I ran some errands, we purchased a nice ceramic planter that will look perfect in the community room. And yesterday I repotted that little plant into its new home. 

I stared at it for a while after I cleaned up the runaway dirt particles. I thought back to that terribly hard season and the loss we felt after the tenant left. You see, the work we do here is very different than it is on a residential campus. In those places, the youth who live there can't just decide to leave. Most have been ordered to go there for treatment of some kind. But our building is different. Our tenants don't have to stay. No one is making them. We encourage them to stay so they can get be better equipped for total independence. But ultimately the decision is theirs, and if they find seemingly greener pastures elsewhere, they are free to go.

We know that when they leave, it's not personal toward us. At least to our knowledge, none of them have ever gotten up one morning and decided to leave just to get even with the team. It's not about us, and we know it. But when it happens, it still hurts. We pour so much time and so many resources into each tenant who walks through our doors, and when they leave, it's a gut-punch for sure. We grieve it. We question ourselves. It's not easy.

So as I stared at that plant and relived all those emotions and questions, I decided I was really glad to have that little plant here in our building. Each time I see it, it will remind me of her, yes. But I'm choosing to let it remind me of the life and growth that can come after the loss, the deep hurt, and the seemingly unsalvageable.

I'm thankful God helped me see that...all from a little repotted plant!