Reveal
Spring is gentle, often associated with renewal and breath. Its tenderness can be short-lived. Nature bursts forth, then hurries. Trees leaf out fully. Temperatures rise. The growing season surges ahead. We feel pressure to plant the flowers and get all of the garden beds looking just perfect, and then, alas! The rain and cooler temps present itself, offering that bit of relief again. And then the heat rises, causing the need to check in and water the tender newness of the plants.
This constant movement in the garden is all for what? At Hope Grows, we are preparing for the big reveal of the healing gardens at the Iris Respite House as we prepare for our house and garden Summer Solstice party, Uncorked and Skewered. Working around the clock, contending with the shifting climate and (dare I mention) weeds…ugh!
Emotionally, all of this can be jarring, throwing one off balance, especially if one thrives in the slower, quieter energies of winter or early spring. The speed of growth mirrors life itself, where moments of calm are quickly overtaken by the urgent, the necessary, the active.
This shift is especially potent for caregivers, gardeners, and those tending to life’s fragility. You might feel the tension between wanting to pause and needing to act. Like planting and tending to a garden, caregiving requires presence, effort, and hope. Yet the heat, pace, and expectations of the care can cause overwhelm.
Profound and tender thoughts that acknowledge the depth of caregiving while asking what a caregiver can reveal is in the truth beyond the stress, the pain, or the sorrow. Caregivers, in their quiet, daily devotion, can reveal many things. Stress, pain, or sorrow may be present, but it is not the only truth unfolding.
Love persists. Caregiving is love made visible through action. It is the hand held in silence, the blanket tucked, the medication given with tenderness. This love continues, even when words fail, even when time grows short. It is resilient, radiant, and real.
An affirmation to reveal: “I am still loving you, even now.”
There is sacredness in the ordinary. In grief, time stretches. But caregivers show how sacred the smallest things can be: the taste of a favorite soup, the sound of birds outside the window, the brushing of hair. These ordinary acts become rituals of presence.
An affirmation to reveal: “This moment matters.”
There is dignity and honor. To care is to affirm someone’s worth, even when their body or mind is changing. It’s to witness the whole person, not just their decline.
An affirmation to reveal: “You are still you. And you are still worthy.”
Inner strength exists in the midst of fragility. Caregivers often don’t feel strong, but they are. They carry what is heavy, not just physically, but emotionally, bearing witness to endings while offering comfort.
An affirmation to reveal: “I am strong enough to be with you in this.”
The presence of hope—not for a cure, but for peace. Hope does not have to mean a miracle cure. Sometimes, it means hoping for a gentle day, for laughter in between pain, or for a moment of connection. This is a quieter, deeper hope.
An affirmation to reveal: “There is still beauty here.”
A mirror of our shared humanity exists. To care for someone at the end of life is to be reminded of our own vulnerability, mortality, and tenderness. Caregivers stand at the threshold between life and death—and show us how to do so with grace.
An affirmation to reveal: “We belong to each other.”
In summary, consider the sacred slowness that will arrive when one can reveal what is in their heart. This month, consider the affirmations above and let the small gestures of the healing gardens quiet your presence. Like the flower, the intricate offerings of love are never lost. Place your hand on the earth or your heart and whisper, “Like the coriander flower, I offer quiet beauty. Like the clove, I carry strength. Even in the heat of this season, I remain rooted in love.”
Remember, we are here to support you with your journey. If you are unable to reveal the truth beyond the stress, the pain, or the sorrow, please reach out.
Written by Lisa Story, MSCP, LPC, CT
Founder & Clinical Director
Focus of the Month | Reveal
Flower of the Month | Coriander
Essential Oil of the Month | Clove