Read Across America Day in Silverton

E'rma's Corner

I looked out of my window this morning and saw the evidence of growth in my flower garden….How amazing that old dried out brown bulbs that are placed in good nutrient filled soil can magically grow and pop through hard dirt and produce such beautiful flowers. I thought about our children who have been deprived of good environments for so long and the need they have to be planted by caring tender hands, in soil filled with understanding, kindness and patience. When we place these children in your homes there seems to always be that dormant time where you don’t see anything growing and the view of their hard and un-changing ways make you want to give up…. That’s the winter of these tender bulbs whose shoots have not broken through the hard soil of abuse and neglect into the warmth of sunlight that you have been showing them…. Take heart, and look harder as time passes and you feed the soil with kindness, you will begin to see the signs of growth and then the beautiful blossom of all they can be, announcing to you that Spring has finally come.

With our children the Winters seem oh so long and at times we believe this child will only have Winter… but take heart…. The warmth of your kindness has healing powers to melt even the hardest ground and often produces the largest bloom…. May your gardens grow tall and full and your hearts be filled with nutrients of hope for all our children.

Wishing all of you an Early Spring

E’rma