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Dine and Dish

Food blog with family recipes

April 21, 2015

Share Your Beauty

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Share Your Beauty

8 years ago we brought a tiny little twig of a lilac bush home from my husbands grandmas house. As soon as the Iowa snow would melt away, Grandma Doyle’s lilac bush would flourish in the most stunning way, bidding goodbye to the harsh winter. Beautiful, fragrant blossoms gave everyone hope that warmth and new beginnings were possible.

Since Nick and I were two people without any kind of green thumb whatsoever, we planted our tiny twig and hoped that someday it would blossom into a beautiful lilac bush.

lilacs

8 years later, we have been enjoying our own blooms off our now flourishing lilac bush. For the past several years it’s continued to grow and has produced the most beautiful blossoms. Each early spring, I love to just sit by the lilac bush in our yard and appreciate its scent and beauty. I also think about Nick’s grandma and how thankful I am that she shared a bit of her beauty with us.

Recently, for the first time, I cut some sprigs off the lilac bush and brought them inside to enjoy. The gorgeous blossoms have brought me such joy. I don’t know why I’ve waited so long to cut these fresh flowers off the bush and bring them in. I guess I thought maybe it would diminish the beauty of the outdoor plant, but in reality, it’s made me appreciate it even more.

lillacs-3

I also offered up our lilac bush to others…hoping to spread the legacy of the bush around some, just like Nick’s Grandma did for us. I’ve had friends come grab blossoms for their own tables at home, as well as starters to hopefully plant flourishing lilac bushes in their own yards. It makes me happy to think that if their lilac bushes are successful, some of Nick’s grandma’s beauty will be spread around, way down here in Kansas.

This got me thinking about people and the beauty we have to share. All too often we’re afraid that if we share something, it may give someone a “one up” on us, or take away from our own beauty…that it may diminish our own beauty somehow. The opposite is true. When we share and give to others, we both grow equally. Hoarding information, gifts, talents, beauty is not why we are here on this earth. We are here to share our beauty and by sharing, help others flourish.

fresh lilacs

As you go through your days, consider how your beauty can be shared with others. One simple act of beauty can spread like wildfire.

How will you help others flourish today?

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Filed Under: Family, Life, Previous Tagged With: beauty, encouragements, flowers, inspiration, life, lifestyle, lilac

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sues says

    April 21, 2015 at 6:49 pm

    What a beautiful post and a gorgeous bunch of lilacs!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 22, 2015 at 4:58 pm

      Thanks so much, friend! I think our lilac bush was the prettiest it has ever been this year!

      Reply
  2. Amy @ Thoroughly Nourished Life says

    April 21, 2015 at 10:17 pm

    I love this post Kristen. Beauty begets beauty. If we give away the beautiful parts of ourselves: our smiles, our happy words, our good deeds, then we do not diminish ourselves, but rather build others up. We spread the spark. We start the fire. We are the change. What a beautiful post and sentiment to ruminate on for the rest of the day, thank you.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 22, 2015 at 5:05 pm

      You have such a great way with words, Amy. Thank you for expressing what I was trying to say so eloquently!

      Reply
  3. Nicole Lindstrom // simply happenstance says

    April 22, 2015 at 7:35 am

    Love this Kristen. What a great story and beautiful lilacs. It reminds me to cut some spring roses and bring them in. Today I will share my smile and patience as I help some kindergarteners at our school book fair.

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 22, 2015 at 5:06 pm

      I hope you survived with a smile on your face 🙂

      Reply
  4. Karen P says

    April 22, 2015 at 10:19 am

    I love lilacs as well and my lilac bush has only started blooming in the last two years.

    I think the pictures in your post are of hyacinths, aren’t they?

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 22, 2015 at 5:07 pm

      They are actually lilacs – but the way they are displayed in the jar does make them look like hyacinths a bit! Here’s a better picture https://instagram.com/p/1ifBLoojbs/?taken-by=dineanddish

      Ours took awhile to start blooming but it has really taken off recently!

      Reply
  5. Ginger Riggins says

    April 22, 2015 at 11:17 am

    What a great story!! I love the imagery of “spreading the legacy” of your grandmother’s bush with others. It’s the simple things that seem to preserve the memories of loved ones! Thanks for the reminder to spread the beauty!

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 22, 2015 at 5:11 pm

      I have a really neat story about my Grandpa, who was an amazing gardener, and some lilly’s. My mom had transplanted some lilly’s at our house and always loved them so much. When my grandpa died, those flowers always really reminded her of him. One day she was in our little town (which was about an hour away from where my grandpa had lived) and she was walking past a house of someone she was acquainted with. She noticed a gorgeous flower bed full of lilly’s and commented to the owner of the house on how beautiful they were. The owner then replied that she received them from a friend in Independence, KS… they just so happened to be lilly’s from my grandpa! Isn’t that cool?

      Reply
  6. Kari says

    April 22, 2015 at 1:01 pm

    What a lovely post and wonderful story!
    Kari
    http://www.sweetteasweetie.com

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 22, 2015 at 5:12 pm

      Thanks so much, Kari!

      Reply
  7. emi says

    April 22, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    your site is beautiful! i love this beautiful story.

    xo welltraveledwife.com

    Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 22, 2015 at 5:13 pm

      Thank you so much, Emi! So kind of you!

      Reply
    • Kristen says

      April 23, 2015 at 7:21 am

      PS your blog is so beautiful too! Love it!

      Reply
  8. JulieD says

    April 23, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    I love this so much!! I wish we could get a bush from you to replant!

    We planted a seedling 5 years ago and I can’t believe how much its grown.

    You share so much of yourself…I’m so thankful you’re a friend. I hope we can catch up on the phone soon! Miss you!

    Reply
  9. victoria wesseler says

    April 25, 2015 at 8:05 am

    You are so right. One never loses anything by sharing. A candle never loses any of its own light when it lights another candle.

    Reply
  10. Ashley says

    April 25, 2015 at 8:30 am

    Love this! Beautiful post and beautiful photos. Lilacs are such a fond memory of my grandmother as well. You definitely have me craving the amazing scent.

    Reply
  11. Liz @ Floating Kitchen says

    April 25, 2015 at 8:41 am

    This is such a wonderful post, Kristen. It makes me happy. Thank you for sharing your words. And your lovely lilacs. They are my favorite flower. We had a big tree in our yard growing up and I would always pick a few in the morning and bring them to school for my teachers!

    Reply
  12. Helen says

    April 27, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    Beautiful post, beautiful photos! Sharing your beauty is a conscious act of love.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Currently Crushing On. | How Sweet It Is says:
    April 25, 2015 at 7:21 am

    […] post on sharing your beauty. so […]

    Reply
  2. Weekend Links I love 26.4.15 | Breathe Eat Love says:
    April 26, 2015 at 5:34 am

    […] Share your beauty. We were all born to share our beauty in the world to inspire others to flourish. […]

    Reply

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Kristen-125Hi friends, I'm Kristen! Mom of 4, Ambassador of Happiness, Coffee Lover and Connection Seeker. Come say hi! Read More…
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You know I’m a huge fan of @librofm , the absolute best audiobook alternative that gives money back to the independent bookstore of your choice with your audiobook purchases. Well, to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on 4/24, they are giving YOU a free audiobook! Here’s what you need to do…

Spend $15 or more at your bookstore between April 24th and 26th. Submit your receipt at libro.fm/ibd and Libro.fm will email you a link to your free audiobook by April 28th! Easy peasy, right?

Wait! There’s more! 🌟 I’d love to give one Dine & Dish follower the chance to win a 3 month @Librofm audiobook membership. To enter, simply tag your favorite independent bookstore here and tell me what you love the most about it! That’s it! Winner will be chosen at random on April 27th. Yay, books!

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If you’re interested in the recipe you can find the link currently in my profile. Enjoy!!
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F is for...food photography.
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