The Gifts Hidden In Adversity - Sep 28

Is it true that every cloud has a silver lining? In today's 5 Minutes in Nature Liz reflects on the hidden gifts in some of the challenging situations we go through in life. Today she realises that difficult events are often the unwelcome packaging for something that proves to be precious. Do you relate to that?

Transcript

Hello and welcome to five minutes in nature with me Liz Scott out and about in a tiny little park in Exeter. It's right on the outskirts of Exeter not far from where my mum lives and I've come inside it sitting on a bench. I've watched the clouds go a golden orange to pink, And now they've gone to a grey as the sun is dipping down. And this park is lovely. There's a children's play area right next to me. A lot of the grasses have been allowed to grow long, So they're yellow and they're falling back now. There's a tiny little orchard being planted in and around some of the trees. I've got to say, The fruit on these orchard plants, The pears and the apples, Look tiny, But it's lovely to see them in this space. And today's reflection is all about seeing the silver lining on a cloud. Talk about the golden clouds I was watching as the sun went down just a few minutes ago. Silver linings are what we're talking about today. And there is a real sense that I get that regardless of how tough something might feel at the moment, There is a gift wrapped in the situation that you're going through. And my friend has been through some really tricky stuff for herself health-wise, But more recently for her grown-up children. Her son-in-law has been diagnosed with a serious illness and it's meant that the whole family has gone into, I was going to say crisis mode, But I don't mean that as though they're flapping around, But everybody has been corralled to help out. So she has got grandchildren. Her daughter and her son-in-law have had to travel to seek expert help and everybody in the family, The other children, Have been helping out and supporting everybody and it's been quite a journey which is not over by any means yet. And as my friend was telling me about this, She seemed to get quite teary because she said as well that even though it's been really hard, Even though her daughter has found it tough and her son-in-law has found it tough, Even though the whole family has been shocked and has pretty much stopped pretty much everything that they're doing in order to support each other, She said, There is always, In my view, A gift in all of this. And she said, For me, The gift has been my relationship with my daughter, Which at times can be a bit choppy, Has suddenly deepened with connection. And as she said this, Her eyes misted over and her voice wobbled a little bit because she was obviously deeply touched at the recognition that although this has been and is an ongoing horrible situation for her family, There are gifts embedded in this whole experience. Another way of putting it is sometimes these gifts are packaged in very unlikely horrible wrapping paper or packaging. But when you get to the gift it really is worth it despite the packaging. And I'm reflecting on that today and I don't really want to spout this as a philosophy because I don't know what you're going through but I can speak for myself and say that absolutely I can see that some of the times I've been through in my life which have been tough and have been unsettling, And there are some ongoing tough situations, Particularly as I help support my elderly mum, That there are gifts in these situations. And sometimes, Just a little bit of relaxation, A little bit of settling within me, And then I see whatever the gift might be. So for me, With my mum, The gift of just being with her, Of connecting with her. She needs my help and I'm having more time to hang out with my mum, I mean that's just really lovely, It's lovely to do that. All the siblings, All my siblings are helping out as well, It means that we are all communicating and doing our best to support our mum and each other. And we wouldn't have done that if my mum wasn't going through her ill health and frailty. It's in a way she's brought us together. So there's a gift for me in that. So I'm really curious whether you can see the gifts in some of the situations that you've been through or are going through. And I don't want you to force this or pretend. I'm not saying that you should find a gift. What I'm just saying is sometimes it can be a bit hidden. But sometimes when you identify that gift. You realise that whilst you might never want to go through that situation again, You are very grateful for the gift that you've received. Let me know your reflections. And of course, Don't forget to join me again tomorrow for another five minutes in nature.

Reviews

The pears are almost ripe on our tree. A gold and green.

Great to hear how challenging times can present a gift. Speaking of mothers my daughter and I were on the phone yesterday and I was sharing how her grandmother my mother was doing. She told me she had recently spoke to her mom my ex wife of nearly 20 years. She had been telling her how she had liked my mother and how great a job she did throughout her difficult life to raise us children.

That was a gift for I never knew she felt that way and it really helped me reflect on how great my mother was in doing her best. Now I must do the same for her.

Thank you Liz. ✌️❤️

Some of them-yes. Others it might take time and space on the other side before I can point to the ‘silver lining’. But it is very good food for thought. Thank you Liz.

This is also something I reflected on in the past few weeks as my Mum's health took a dip for the 2nd time this year. My sister and I have come close and found common ground to help and make decisions.
Often when things don't go as planned I have always taken the view that there is silver lining that may take a long time to show up but in the end always will.