Not to long ago I was on my way up the driveway when I spotted this beautiful tree in the strangest place; it was growing in the center of a thorny Autumn Olive bush. I was so taken aback I had to go get my phone so I could take a picture.

This beautiful flowering tree made me think about the rewards that come from standing your ground and pushing through the thorns. I find that the thorns can come from many different sources; our thoughts, physical ailments, difficult people or circumstances and even well meaning friends. How many times people have told me I couldn’t do something that in the end I did and did well. I continued on in my endeavor and was rewarded with a small success, sometimes the endeavor takes a great deal of time, but those things which require great sacrifice often bring even greater…