Review #33: The Trellis and the Seed by Jan Karon

Title: Karon, Jan. The trellis and the seed : a book of encouragement for all ages. Puffin Books.2005. 32 pages. Tr. $15.95. ISBN 978-0-670-89289-0

Genre: Fiction
Reading Level/Interest Level: 3.9/ Grades 3-6
Similar Titles: Unknown

In a gentle tale of encouragement, a little seed starts out hard and full of doubt, as the expectations set for its destiny seem insurmountable and time goes by so slowly.

 

In the care of a nice lady, the seed becomes soft and sprouting, begins to see a little possibility in its future. Planted in just the right spot in the garden, the seed begins to understand that, in goodtime, its grand life will begin to unfold, with nurturing, time, patience, encouragement and hope.  Even so it doubts, though the nice lady is constantly reassuring.

 

Can it grow to the top of the trellis? Will it drown in the rain? What happens when its growth seems to stall? Even if it does reach the top of the trellis, what happens when all the other plants are in bloom but it has still not fulfilled its purpose?

 

One night, as it feels a tickle and a kiss, the encouragement of the Earth, the love of the nice lady and the light of the moon, it begins to truly understand how different is wonderful, as it becomes the only plant to bloom at night, the gorgeous, silky blooms of the MoonFlower.

 

The nice lady awakens from her sleep, lulled by the a beautiful sent from the garden, gasps at what the little seed has become and says, “I just knew you were going to be something wonderfully different!.......Thank you!”,  proving that different is beautiful, and that just because we may develop differently does not mean that we are any less spectacular than our surroundings. In fact, often, those that take a different path, might just become the most valuable of all for the journey, and all it takes, is a little support, patience and time.

 

Everyone goes through life wondering if they will ever be what they want to be, look like they want to look, get where they want to go. Odds seem insurmountable. Doubt, fear and sadness grow. The Trellis and the Seed, while yes it does mention "God", in 2 points (just to point that out for those who object to theology in their children's books), the point is simple....you have a purpose; you have potential and sometimes you have to let go of the reins long enough to let nature take its course. You just have to believe in the encouragement of others, in yourself, and of all the creative potential that one little seed can create.