Once upon a time, about thirty years ago, there was a little plant.  It started out like any other plant.  It grew from a tiny seed buried deep within the soil.

It lived in a nice, sunny garden filled with many other plants. 

The small plant grew and grew in the rich soil there  

and was quite happy.

One day a lady came and dug all the plants up out of the garden! All of the plants were being transplanted.  The little plant overheard the florist say something about "going to a florist shop in Barnesville, Georgia," whatever that meant!

The next thing the little plant knew, it was in a new flowerpot in a cozy, little building surrounded by many other plants and flowers.

"I guess this is a florist shop," thought the little plant.

"It's nice I guess, but I really don't understand why I had to leave the garden."

Days and weeks went by and the little plant sat on a shelf in the florist shop.   One day a man came into the shop and said, "I need to buy a plant for a funeral. A kind lady passed away from cancer and  I want to get the family a plant in her honor...one that will last."

The little plant listened carefully and thought, 

"I wonder if I am a plant that will last?"

The man shuffled by, carefully looking over all 

the plants and flowers in the shop. He stopped 

                 and pointed at the little plant.

                                "I'll take that one."

"That's a great choice, sir," said the florist, "this type of plant can live for years if it's well taken care of."

The little plant felt so happy and important to be the chosen plant!

The next day the plant was sent to a place called "the funeral home." The plant was glad to be there, but she noticed everyone else was so sad.  The little plant hoped she could cheer them up!

After the funeral, the little plant went to live with a nice lady named Kathy. Kathy was the daughter of the lady who had passed away.   Kathy had an older daughter named Tiffany and a younger daughter named Allison.

"Oh boy ," thought the plant,  "I'm off to a new place.  I wonder what it will be like there."

When the little plant arrived,  Kathy took the plant to a sun-filled back porch with a few other plants.

"Well," thought the plant, "I guess this is home now."

The back porch reminded the little plant of the sunshine-filled garden that had been her first home.

Days and weeks passed.  Months and years went by.  The little plant was happy and grew big and strong.  But one chilly, November day something bad happened.

One night the little plant was left outside in the cold.

A frost had come that night and the little plant's leaves and stem were frozen.  Kathy discovered the plant the next day and she was worried. This plant had always been special to her, just as her mother had been.

"Oh no! I've got to bring you inside and take care of you," Kathy told the plant.

The little plant was relieved, for she had been frozen nearly to death, but thankfully she was still alive, however soon it did not appear so.

Soon, all of the plant's damaged leaves and stem withered away, and there was nothing left but the soil in the flowerpot. The little plant looked dead, but deep down in the soil, where only God could see, the roots were still alive.

Everyone thought the plant was dead. Everyone 

except Kathy.  She watered and took care of the

little plant's soil in the flowerpot.  The plant was

nice and warm inside by Kathy's bedroom window.

Days went by.  Weeks went by.  Months went by.

One day Allison, (Kathy's youngest daughter) saw 

her mother watering the soil of the flowerpot where

the little plant had once been.  Allison laughed and 

said, "Why are you still watering that 

dead plant?"

Kathy told her daughter, "Maybe                                 it's roots are still alive.  I'm not giving up on the plant."

Despite Allison's doubt, the little                                  plant was encouraged by Kathy's hope and faith.  The little                                plant was alive and well!  It's just that no one could see the                                        proof yet!

One day, months later, Kathy was cleaning her bedroom  and looked over at the little plant's flowerpot.

"I guess it's time for me to throw away the

old flowerpot since the plant is  dead," thought Kathy, "I

just don't understand, I really believed that 

the plant was going to make it." 

"Wait," thought the little plant, "I'm not dead!"

"Look at me, look down, please.  I've sprouted some new leaves!"

Kathy picked the flowerpot up and quietly walked outside to the trash can at the end of the driveway.  She set the old flowerpot down and began to turn away. Just as she was about to walk away, a flash of green caught her eye.

She turned back and looked inside the flowerpot.  There in the soil was a tiny green sprout!

Kathy could not believe her eyes!  The plant was still alive! 

Even when it looked dead, her faith had kept motivating her 

to take care of the plant. She was so glad she did!

Kathy thought for a moment and suddenly an idea came to her.  

She needed to tell her oldest           daughter, Tiffany, about the plant. Tiffany had been very           sick with some health problems which seemed to have no end        in sight and had been discouraged.  Maybe hearing how the             little plant had survived would encourage her.

"Yes. I"ll tell Tiffany about       you," Kathy said as she patted the old flowerpot.

The little plant felt so happy!

"Maybe," thought the plant,                                "my story will give Tiffany some hope!"

A few days later, Kathy                                went to visit Tiffany. Kathy told Tiffany all about the                        "hope plant." It was just at the right time, for her daughter                          was losing all hope of ever getting better.  After Kathy                   shared the story of hope, Tiffany smiled and said, "I feel a little                     better. I love that story of hope."

The plant's story had encouraged her heart as if a tiny seed of hope had been planted there. The name                                   "hope plant" stuck.