Thought for reflection

It was late spring and the buds still refused to open. Lightly wrapped up in themselves, they were as hard as stones. The wind shook them. The hail beat them. The frost squeezed them in a fist of iron.

All three shouted: "Open up! Open up!" Instead of opening up, the buds reinforced their shells, and retreated even more deeply into themselves.

Then along came the sun. It issued no threats and made no demands. It just created a more friendly climate. And what happened?

Almost overnight the buds began to soften and expand. Then their shells cracked, and they burst out.

If you love, you are gentle. And there are certain tasks which only gentleness can accomplish.