A mighty sword exudes the strength of steel, Slices, dices, and then heals the soul. Armor deflects impending missiles, Protects the heart from vicious daggers.
A babbling brook meanders its course, Rocks and pebbles dissolve ongoing tensions. Unveiling a clarity, pure, and transforming, Hurts and resentments evaporate with the morning dew.
Artist Credit: lakeandriverstudio.com Aqua Turquoise Abstract Painting, Atlantis
Dirt and grime wash away, Emotional wounds from yesteryear. Tranquility of the dancing bubbles, Streams to new levels of consciousness.
The gentle murmur of a soothing hymn, Echo a cascade of emotions like a waterfall. Renewed tingling senses, Daring to navigate a new direction.
The Spirit of Aquamarine, Inhales and exhales a cleansing breath. Frosty blues with a whisper of white, The stone radiates a glimmer of sheer delight.
The gaze of another’s perspective. Rejuvenate a harmonious synergy, Humming, cooing, and wooing, A symbiotic relationship rekindles.
Taken from: The University of Missouri, Integrated Pest Management Article on Strawberry: A Brief History.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the annual per capita consumption of fresh and frozen strawberries is 4.85 pounds.
Over 53 percent of seven to nine-year-olds picked strawberries as their favorite fruit.
Strawberries are low in fat but high in vitamin C, fiber, folic acid, and potassium. One cup of strawberries contains only 55 calories.
Strawberries are grown in every state in the United States and every province of Canada.
California produces an amazing one billion pounds of strawberries each year. If all the strawberries produced in California were laid berry to berry in one year, they would circle the Earth 15 times.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the world’s largest strawberry shortcake was 827 square feet and weighed 6,000 pounds. It was made in 1999 in Plant City, Florida.
The series on strawberries concludes today. I learned alot about this tiny red fruit/plant! I’d love to hear what your thoughts are on the subject. Comment below or go to iandthoureflections.com on Facebook.
Vibrantly red in color with the sweetness of sugar, strawberries have been around for centuries. Ancient Romans believed the fruit to be a symbol of Venus, the goddess of love. This led to rituals associating strawberries with love and fertility.
The Heart Chakra
A sacred fruit to some, symbolizes the heart, as in the heart chakra, the energy center of love and compassion. It represents purity, abundance, and the sweetness of life. Indulging in strawberries can be a mindful practice that invites us to savor each bite as we thank God for the blessings in our lives.
Sensuality
Image Credit: gypsygirlgourmet.blogspot.com
Chocolate-dipped strawberries add a hint of passion and sensuality to its characteristics. Often thought of as an aphrodisiac, chocolate stimulates the release of endorphins and “feel good” hormones, which can tingle the senses. This Valentine’s treat symbolizes desire and indulgence and is a thoughtful gift for a special person in your life.
Eating together is considered a sacred act in tantric and spiritual traditions. It symbolizes a union. A sharing of nourishment at a physical and spiritual level. Thus, eating strawberries with a loved one can deepen emotional connection.
Fresh and Sassy
Whether strawberries are picked in a garden or bought from the grocery store, they are fresh and sassy. They are versatile, too! They can adorn a beautiful platter of cheese and crackers by slicing them thinly, fanning them, and keeping the stem intact. Dipping them in chocolate and poking them on sticks can resemble a vase of flowers. Dicing them and placing them in a glass bowl, whisper, “Use me as a topping.” For salads, for ice creams, for whatever you can dream.
The next time you reach for a strawberry, pause. Take it in. Allow yourself to fully experience the lusciousness this fruit provides.
The color.
The taste.
The love.
Share God’s Love
May the next strawberry you eat connect your soul profoundly and meaningfully to God, to love, and to others. Go and savor the heart-shaped fruit and experience the simple beauty of nature.
Valentine’s Day is a day of love and passion. It is a day to declare your love to those you love. For me, Valentine’s Day reminds me of strawberries. Chocolate-covered strawberries, to be exact. There is something extra special about them. Maybe because it is a once-a-year treat.
Image Credit: publicdomainvectors.org
Love is in the Air
If I had to define what love tastes like, I would choose a strawberry. A ripe strawberry tastes like the very essence of love. First, the smell. The fresh aroma starts to tingle the senses. Then, the bite. The first bite lingers on your tongue. It is a sweet-tart sensation that intermingles in your mouth.
Harmony
In North America, strawberries symbolize reconciliation, harmony, and positive energy. In Europe, they suggest righteousness and spiritual purity. (The Language of Flowers: A Miscellany” by Mandy Kirkby.)
Fruit of the Spirit
In the Bible, strawberries can represent the Fruit of the Spirit. They convey love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). When we see and eat strawberries, we can reflect on the goodness God provides to us. Strawberries urge us to bear spiritual fruit in our lives.
Devotion and Service
Strawberries also remind us of devotion and service to others. These red fruits are wrapped in a heart-shaped package. Each one represents love for ourselves and love for others. It is the force that binds us all together as one.
Strawberries also represent sensuality. The God-given pleasure of life. Think about it.
The Strawberry:
Red
Sweet
Luscious
Shhhhh – I Love You!
So, the next time you bite into a strawberry, pause. Let its flavor linger on your lips, and consider the whispers it carries. Love, devotion, and sensuality are wrapped in the tiny, heart-shaped package.
May the sweetness of strawberries remind you of life’s divine flavors.
Strawberries are an incredible fruit. Their medicinal properties date back to the ancient Romans. According to David Trinklein from The University of Missouri, Integrated Pest Management, the Romans used strawberries to remedy kidney stones and other ailments. Another interesting fact he uncovered was Madame Tallien, related to Napoleon, bathing in twenty-two pounds of fresh strawberry juice. Maybe she knew something we don’t?
In a recent article from the Cleveland Clinic, Registered Dietitian Bailey Flora, MS, RDN, LD, describes the benefits of the naturally dense, low-caloric strawberry.
“Strawberries give you a lot of nutritional value for very few calories,” says Flora. “They’re tasty but naturally low in sugar. That’s a combination that’s hard to beat.”
Bailey Flora, MS, RDN, LD
Nutritional Powerhouse
Ms. Flora teaches us that eight strawberries contain 160% of your daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C. They are also packed with anthocyanin, an antioxidant. The more vibrant the color, the more antioxidant value it has. Fiber, manganese, potassium, and folic acid are also in strawberries and have less sugar than other fruits.
Strawberries are a tiny gift. A gift of love. A gift of nourishment. A gift to the taste buds. If you want a delicious, minimalistic, consumable gift for Valentine’s Day, visit your local farmer’s market or grocery store.
It is one of my favorite holidays. I don’t get suckered into commercialism; I take time to reflect on love. Past. Present. Future.
So, spending the next few posts exploring the connection between Valentine’s Day, love, and strawberries is fitting. Remember that Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. It doesn’t necessarily involve romantic love. Love is love.
Image Credit: Betsy Cox PublicDomainPictures.net
Is it a Plant or a Fruit?
Valentine’s Day is a perfect time for indulging in fresh strawberries from the farmer’s market. Their sweet aroma fills the air and dazzles the senses, evoking a smile from ear to ear.
Did you know that this tiny, robust red fruit is not just a fruit but also a plant?
Botanically, the “fruit” of the strawberry is not a fruit at all. The fleshy, edible part of the plant is the enlarged receptacle of the flower. The visible “seeds” that dot the surface of the strawberry actually are achenes. An achene is a type of dry fruit borne by some plants in nature where the ripened ovary contains but a single seed.
David Trinklein, University of Missouri, Plant Science & Technology (2012)
Have you ever grown strawberries? Or observed them growing in a garden or field? These vine-like stems sprawl in all directions and lay low; hence, they are the “strewn” in strawberries.
Where Did They Come From?
By the 1300s, the strawberry was in cultivation in Europe when the French began transplanting the wood strawberry (Fragaria vesca) from the wilderness to the garden. At the end of the 1500s, the musky strawberry (Fragaria moschata) was also cultivated in European gardens. Then, in the 1600s, North America’s Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) reached Europe. The spread of this new, relatively hardy species was gradual, and it remained little appreciated until the end of the 1700s and early 1800s when it was popular in England. At that time, English gardeners worked to raise new varieties from seed, and they increased the number of varieties from three to nearly thirty.
Vern Grubinger, Vegetable and Berry Specialist, The University of Vermont
Strawberry is a member of the Rosaceae family, and its official name is Fragaria. Strawberries are native to North America. Native Americans used them in many dishes, and the first colonists shipped them back to Europe as early as 16001.
Versatile Little Treasures
Home gardens are an ideal environment for nurturing strawberries. They only require a little space, and they yield a fair amount.
You may want to purchase extra strawberries this week. Or better yet, share a few chocolate-covered strawberries with a special someone. These timeless treasures make the perfect Valentine’s gift.
I heard on the radio today that February 7-14 is National Marriage Week.
First, let’s give a shout-out to married folks! Hip, hip, hooray!
Another cheer for those who hope to marry someday! Hip, hip, hooray!
MARRIAGE
This week, we celebrate marriage. The timeless institution is a beacon of love, commitment, and companionship. Marriage is more than a legal contract or societal norm. It’s a sacred bond forged in sharing experiences, trials, and triumphs.
Marriage is a journey of…
Growth.
Compromise.
Unconditional Love.
THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
It enriches the lives of both partners and communicates in the language of love. Love is the shared moments that speak volumes without a single word spoken.
The giggles.
The gestures.
The glances.
The long embrace.
The cuddles.
The dancing in the kitchen.
It is the “I have your back” confidence. The confidence that when it gets tough and life throws a curveball, there is someone to lean on.
RECENT RESEARCH
Marriage plays a significant role in determining a person’s overall happiness throughout their lifetime.
Brad Wilcox, Professor of Sociology, University of Virginia
Brad Cox’s research offers valuable insights into the intricate dynamics of marital bliss. His studies delve into the factors contributing to long-lasting happiness within relationships, highlighting:
Mutual Respect.
Communication.
Emotional Intimacy.
FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE ANOTHER PATH
Worth and happiness are not defined by marital status. Clearly, marriage makes sense to some and not to others. Each person’s journey is unique. Marriage may not be the right choice for everyone. Therefore, we must respect and honor the diversity of human relationships in all shapes and sizes.
CONCLUSION – LOVE IS LOVE
There is no doubt that love permeates through the air in February. Everywhere you go, you see hearts. Today, I saw raspberries in a clear plastic heart-shaped container at Target.
This week is the perfect opportunity to cherish the love you have in your life. Embrace love. Show affection. We all love someone. A parent. A child. A spouse. A friend. Go ahead and celebrate love this week with a simple gesture. Remember that love unites us together in the fabric of life. And the sacrament of marriage binds us to God and our partner for all the days of our lives.
Many of us are familiar with the 1993 film, “Groundhog Day,” starring the famous comedian Bill Murray. In this flick, he plays a weatherman sent on assignment to Punxsutawney, PA, to cover the annual Groundhog Day event. Does the groundhog see his shadow for six more weeks of winter, or does he not indicate spring will arrive shortly.
Groundhog Day,
“is a tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February 2 of every year starting in the 16th century. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den, and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early.”
Wikipedia
The movie begins with the clock turning 6 a.m. and the alarm playing “I Got You Babe,” a Sonny and Cher certified Gold hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Bill, who plays Phil Connors, wakes in his hotel room, only to repeat this segment many times in the movies. Finally, Phil realizes he is caught up in a time loop, with the same day playing over and over.
In psychological terms, he experiences a personal transformation. Phil’s character matures from an arrogant, self-centered one to a more authentic human being who genuinely cares for others. His pursuit of love offers comic relief to the often awkwardness of dating.
Lessons Learned
Lesson #1: Be Open to Personal Growth
Phil has an incredible opportunity to reflect on his day, reassess, and make changes for the next day. He learns to be kinder and compassionate by listening more and seeing life through other perspectives.
Lesson #2. Embrace the Present
The endless loop Phil finds himself in allows him to live in the moment. He learns to find joy in simple pleasures
Lesson #3. Find Purpose
Phil falls in love with one of his colleagues, and in his pursuit of “winner her over,” he realizes that love gives purpose and fulfillment to his life.
Reflection
This movie provides an opportunity for all of us to pause. To Pause and reflect on how we would live our lives differently if we knew what was coming next. How often do we say to ourselves, “If only I’d known?”
This movie serves as a reminder to live life fully. To be our best selves. Not mediocre selves, but our best!
What does your best look like? And, would your best be the best for someone else?
Living my best self taught me to think more and talk less. I have learned that my words matter. My actions matter. My intentions matter. I want to make this place a better place and impact lives. The lives of friends, family, and strangers. I want us to come together as one. One people. One God. One love.
I and Thou Reflections 
