Lime Lessons

We’ve all heard the sentiment: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

We have a key lime tree on our deck, potted in a retired Napa Valley wine barrel, & we enjoy her bounty in sparkling water & salad dressings, marinades & other sauces.

We don’t pick her fruit, however. She freely offers it to us.

Most days when I step out the back slider to visit the yard, winter through spring, I discover one or more limes waiting for me on the deck.

Our lime tree knows when she’s ready to let go of what’s already good. She makes space for what’s yet to come, evidenced by the myriad blossoms ready for eager pollinators to do their work.

She is a picture of letting go of one thing to embrace another, & I especially love her for that. The limes in my drinks & adding just the right sparkle of acid to my homemade soft tacos or stir fry marinades, well, yes, obviously I also love her for those reasons.

One of these days, I hope her message will sink deep into my heart. Let go when it’s time. Don’t hold on longer than you should. Leave comfort behind to embrace something new, something beautiful & fragrant.

Someday.

Five Minute Friday writing prompt: Someday

Published by Siv Ricketts

Hi, I'm Siv (pronounced "See-v") Ricketts, & I'm so glad you're here. In this space & on Instagram, I write to encourage you to have hope, seek beauty, and live joyfully. I have BA’s in English and Communication from Westmont College and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. I have focused my career working in and writing for the Church as a youth director, a communication director, and a freelance writer/editor. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband, two sons, and a menagerie of pets. You can also find me on Instagram (@sivricketts).

8 thoughts on “Lime Lessons”

    1. Siv Ricketts – SF Bay Area – Hi, I'm Siv (pronounced "See-v") Ricketts, & I'm so glad you're here. In this space & on Instagram, I write to encourage you to have hope, seek beauty, and live joyfully. I have BA’s in English and Communication from Westmont College and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. I have focused my career working in and writing for the Church as a youth director, a communication director, and a freelance writer/editor. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband, two sons, and a menagerie of pets. You can also find me on Instagram (@sivricketts).
      Siv Ricketts says:

      Short & sweet (or tart) 😉

      Reply
  2. aschmeisser – I'm a writer - my new book, 'Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart' will be published by Tate Publishing on July 10, 2012. It's a book about the redemptive power of love - God's love for us, the love we share through friendship, and the sacrament of romantic love.
    aschmeisser says:

    I once had a lemon tree
    right in my backyard,
    and one day, mate, I did see
    a sight that seemed quite hard;
    my Malinois did leap and swing
    his head to pick the fruit.
    And then he went and ate the thing,
    but though it was so very cute
    I really did grow quite concerned,
    for he made a screwy face.
    Had his tongue and throat been burned?
    But no, he had protecting grace
    from Holy Ghost, Father, and Son,
    for he then ate another one.

    Reply
    1. Siv Ricketts – SF Bay Area – Hi, I'm Siv (pronounced "See-v") Ricketts, & I'm so glad you're here. In this space & on Instagram, I write to encourage you to have hope, seek beauty, and live joyfully. I have BA’s in English and Communication from Westmont College and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. I have focused my career working in and writing for the Church as a youth director, a communication director, and a freelance writer/editor. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband, two sons, and a menagerie of pets. You can also find me on Instagram (@sivricketts).
      Siv Ricketts says:

      Clever!

      Reply

  4. Beautiful lemon tree & lemon pic. Nice you homemade soft tacos or stir fry marinades,. Very nice you sharing lime lessons. I like.

    Reply
  5. dawnfanshawe – I am a mother and grandmother, and formerly I had roles of being a primary school teacher, a full-time carer and owner of a photography business. Now I am a writer, with one book published by WestBow Press: "Lost Down Memory Lane", and another book on the slow train to the publishers. Meanwhile, I do a weekly blog post and have a YouTube channel of my own recordings of Scripture and poetry. When not working on my current book project, I manage a charity shop, play with grandchildren and help in projects supporting families in the local community. All poems and writings are Copyright of Dawn Fanshawe, unless otherwise stated. Please contact me either by commenting on my posts, or directly on dawn@fanshawe.org
    Dawn Fanshawe says:

    What a beautiful illustration of a lesson I need to learn. I’m not good at letting go, even when it’s time. Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Siv Ricketts – SF Bay Area – Hi, I'm Siv (pronounced "See-v") Ricketts, & I'm so glad you're here. In this space & on Instagram, I write to encourage you to have hope, seek beauty, and live joyfully. I have BA’s in English and Communication from Westmont College and an MDiv from Fuller Theological Seminary. I have focused my career working in and writing for the Church as a youth director, a communication director, and a freelance writer/editor. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area with my husband, two sons, and a menagerie of pets. You can also find me on Instagram (@sivricketts).
      Siv Ricketts says:

      I suspect most of us struggle with letting go. Thanks for reading & for the encouragement.

      Reply

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