Learn From Bamboo

From a mailing list.

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my
spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to
the woods to have one
last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you give me
one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I
took very good care of
them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The
fern quickly grew from the
earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet
nothing came from the
bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In
the second year the Fern
grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing
came from the bamboo
seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." He said.

"In year three there was still nothing from the
bamboo seed. But I would
not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing
from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from
the earth. Compared to
the fern it was seemingly small and
insignificant...But just 6 months later
the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent
the five years growing
roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what
it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it
could not handle." He said to me.

"Did you know, my child, that all this time you
have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The
bamboo had a different
purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"

"How high should I rise?" I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you
see that God will never give up on you. He will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life.
Good days give you happiness;
bad days give you experiences;
both are essential to life