It was almost like the Garden of Eden, this little valley
where they lived. The petals of each bloom were succulent in appearance, filled
with fragrant oils and life. The Clan K of four tended their plants and marveled at how the God of the universe had blessed them.
As the day faded into another beautiful evening, the mother spoke.
“You know,” Elle K said as her eyes embraced the fields and
moved upward, “the top of the Hill of Beran looks to be a lonely place. No one
ever goes there. The climb is so steep, and there is no reward awaiting. Just a
plain crest surrounded by thin branches and trunks of trees that have lost their desire to grow. We should take seeds from the beauty we have sown here to the top of the Hill of Beran and plant them.”
The Clan K was blessed with two fine young men who were
always eager to help tend the fertile Valley of Florae, but the thought of
trudging up to place where no one ever went just to share some of their
precious flower seeds brought many grumbles.
“Now, boys. Don’t be too quick to think badly of your
mother’s idea. She rarely requests anything of us. If this is something that
feels important to her, we should give some serious thought to her idea,”
cautioned their father, Papa K.
But Papa K’s heart was far from his spoken words. He had
traveled to the top of that hill before; he knew the journey would be long and
demanding. He had seen that crest up close and knew it to be void of any nutrition
for their precious pips. But he would not deny his lovely bride of anything
within his power to deliver.
By morning, Elle K had filled each seed sack with some of
the best nuggets ready to be planted. The sacks were heavy on their shoulders.
They left their fertile Valley of Florae and started the climb to the Hill of
Beran.
The longer they walked, the steeper the climb became. Their
seed sacks rubbed against their waists and thighs until tiny holes began to
wear into the coarse burlap. The Clan K were too busy struggling with their
footing to notice that as they climbed higher, more seeds fell to the ground.
When at last they reached the top of the Hill of Beran, they
lifted the seed sacks from their shoulders. That’s when they noticed that they
were no longer heavy. Most of the seeds had fallen out along the way.
“Papa, look! Our sacks are almost empty. We’ve climbed all
this way. My shoes are nearly worn through from the rocks and crags, and now we’ve
practically nothing to plant!”
Elle K examined her own flimsy seed sack that had been
filled tight. She sighed. She could not let her husband and their boys feel
their trip had been in vain.
“Look at the seeds,”
she implored. “The smaller ones fell through the tiny, worn places, but some seeds
did survive our trek. Let’s find the very best spots to plant them. We’ll pray
for the God of the universe to bless them. Then they will be in His hands.”
The Spring thaw had left a few shallow ponds among the thin
trees, and there would be at least some shade there to protect the flowers, if
they grew at all. The Clan K went to work and tenderly set the seeds just below
the surface of the soil nearest the water ponds, then made the long trip downhill
to their beautiful Valley of Florae.
Fall came, then Winter. Life settled back into their routine
with few thoughts of their venture to the Hill of Beran.
Then Spring arrived.
After an afternoon of watering and tending their lush
florals, Elle K rolled back onto her heels and stretched her neck upward.
“Look!” She exclaimed.
The path they had taken to the top of the Hill of Beran was
alive with blooms, just like the Valley of Florae. And the top of the Hill of
Beran was afire with color as the sun provided the spotlight for God’s
blessings on those few surviving seeds.
Clans from far and wide now make the journey to the top of
the Hill of Beran. The once barren crest is now covered with beauty. Every year
the flowers increase in number and size, especially at the very top.
And God smiles.
“How lovely
on the mountains
Are the feet of him who brings good news,
Who announces peace,
And brings good news of happiness,
Who announces salvation,
And says to Zion,
‘Your God
reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7 NASB)
A fable to
honor a special family.
