Water lily

I like water lilies whenever I see water lilies I thought of how lilies and lotuses grow out of the mud, transforming mud into beauty. I remembered the story what I read about water lilies .It is about the power of exponential growth is a story about the pond and the water lily, and it can help anyone that needs to be jolted out of their current or their linear mode of thinking.
 

We’re a lot like those flowers, aren’t we? Every day, several times a day, we have the opportunity to remain stuck in the mud – to hold onto grudges, retaliate, grump around, mope, wallow in self pity, succumb to hurtful habits—or to grow out of the mud and bloom into our true, beautiful nature. We can choose to remain tightly curled into ourselves or we can open our hearts as a generous gift to those around us.

Staying in the mud is safe. It’s comfortable. It’s what we know, and it allows us to latch onto excuses, “This is who I am. This is all I know. I was born this way. I can’t. I’m too scared. It shouldn’t be so hard. I deserve better.”

When we stay in the mud, we waste precious minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years waiting for someone or something to rescue us—to pull us out of our own muck.Rising out of the mud takes courage. It allows us to hurt, but it also allows us to love.

 

Think about that whenever you are tempted to curl in tight to protect yourself from what makes you uncomfortable. Ask yourself, “Do I want to stay in the muck? Or do I want to rise above?”

No matter what you tell yourself, you do not deserve the muck. There is beauty inside, and people around you are just waiting for you to open those petals and share it.

 "A pristine waterlily discouraged by its surroundings, rises from the depths of a murky pond. It's lotus petals perfume the air, as it flowers and blooms brilliantly, purely, divinely, despite and probably because of its origins. Becoming a spiritual person does not mean you to leave your prior life behind, but instead you integrate, learn, remember, and respect what brought you to this point  in the first place." Jacquelene Close Moore

Lotus

Lotus

The morning calm lake that

Brimming with hues of all shades

Reflects the golden glory of the sun

Swaying to the refreshing breeze,

And it’s pure fragrance perfumes the wind

Majestically beautiful in!

The lotus rooted deep in mud

Its jade green leaves spread out over the pond,

Stretches toward sky to stand Tall and pure

Now it raises from the murky water.

Multi-petaled open steadily

Its petals are covered with dew,

Natural, White, Pure

A flower forever with charms to hold

Lustrous, Cool and Majestic!

Valentine's Day

Every February,. Across the country Valentine's Day on February 14 on which lovers express their love for each other; sending Valentine's ...card candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, St. Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, so, Who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite?

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. I believe that note started the custom of exchanging love messages on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day he died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people remember. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial -- which probably occurred around 270 A.D -- others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'Christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. Then Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February -- Valentine's Day -- should be a day for romance.

The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London. In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia..

In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America. Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".

By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings.
. One verse they sang was:
Good morning to you, valentine;

Curl your locks as I do mine ---

Two before and three behind.

Good morning to you, valentine.
On February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were given as gifts” You unlock my heart!"
Every year on this day, people remember St. Valentine. But most importantly, they think about love and friendship. They know that love can't be beaten!
" Love is pure and sacred,Love is truth and everything good
Love is selfless and undemanding; giving and not expecting in return"

(Collection from History Of Valentine)