Life moves in wonderful circles.
Earth Day 2004 was the day my Mom passed. I brought home a 6″ snip of corkscrew Willow that was part of her funeral spray and stuck it in the ground in her honor. It grew. Every year after that on Earth Day I would go out and celebrate the fact that that little tree came back to life each Spring as a testament to life, resilience and hope.
In 2023 the March tornado destruction took that tree completely down.
In 2024, a small start came up from what was left of the stump and I didn’t have the heart to cut it back last fall.
Now, on Earth Day 2025, I am celebrating once more as I look at the lovely rebirth of the resilient Willow… and smile. Mom is reminding me that none of this is ours – we are only the stewards – the protectors – the gardeners. The earth and all of the circles are His!
Earth day. I have always been fond of this day as a formal reminder of our need to remain vigilant in our stewardship of this precious mother earth. Let it be our renewed call to action.
Happy Earth Day, Momma. Peace.
Kelly E. James 