GrowingTogether
~ Growing Together ~

Once upon a time, there was a little grape stem.

She was so glad to be alive!

She drank water and minerals from the soil and grew and grew.

She was young and strong and could manage quite well...

All by Herself.
But the wind was cruel, the rain was harsh,

And the snow not one bit understanding.

The little grape experienced pain.

She drooped, weak and suffering.
"It would be so easy to stop trying to grow,

to stop trying to live," thought the little stem.

She felt just awful.

The winter was long, and she was weary.
"Here, reach out, hang onto me."

But the little stem hesitated.

"What would this mean?" she wondered.

For you see, the little stem had always managed quite well...

All by herself.
Then, ever so cautiously, she reached out toward the other stem.

"See, I can help you, " it said.

"Just wind your tendrils about me, and I will help you lift your head."

And the little stem trusted.
Suddenly, she could stand straight again.

The wind came... and the rain.... and the snow.

But when it came, the little stem was clinging to many other stems.

And althought the stems were swayed by the wind,

And frozen by the snow,

They stood strongly, united to each other.

And in their quiet strength,

They could smile and grow.
One day, the little stem said,

"Here, hang on... I will help you.

And another stem reached up to the little grape stem.

And together, all stems grew... leaves budded... flowers bloomed...

And finally the grapes formed... and the grapes fed many.


~ Author Unknown ~
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