The aroma in the air today was unmistakable. It was sweet and lingering. Sweet as a Gardenia bloom and just as soft but not as fragile. It was an aroma that could only happen after weathering the bite of   cold winter days and the turbulent winds of spring.

This sweetness can only happen after years of growth, learning patience along the way and remembering to be thankful for the sunshine and rain that gave life. A sweetness that can see the blooms that have faded and will soon fall from the tree to continue providing a source for growth and strength for buds yet to bloom.

I stepped back and filled my lungs with the scent of rain from a nearby cloud. Remembering that even in the rain, the Magnolia is grateful. It reminded me of my home in Mississippi where my own Magnolia has bloomed and shared the sweetness of life. She turned seventy this year and her color remains bright and peaceful. Like the aroma in the air today, she lingers, calling all of those around her to bloom.