I haven’t mentioned this on my journal before due to its sensitive nature but something, or rather someone who has been constantly on my mind over the past few months is my lovely niece Lily. Lily was diagnosed with Leukaemia in September and has been going through treatment since September. Due to Covid and other factors, she hasn’t been able to go home since then, nor has my sister-in-law Charlotte – until last week, when there were several very carefully planned brief visits before the next round of treatment.
I’m in awe of Lily and Charlotte – and indeed dad Richard and brother Charlie – for getting through this incredibly tough situation with such grace, bravery and positivity. Dealing with serious illness requires such tenacity and resilience anyway. Dealing with it during a pandemic and all the additional worry and extra steps required is quite something else. So all thoughts and prayers with them each and every day.
Anyway, in honour of Lily’s bravery I wanted to dedicate a post just to her. Lily, the flower of peace, love and friendship. Lily, the flower that also stands strong through grief. A name possibly derived from the ancient Greek word for flower. A flower worn in bridal headdresses and placed under pillows for its feminine scent. For it’s purity of vision.
I don’t have any lilies in our garden but I think I will plant some now as a reminder of what quiet strength and beauty can do. A Lilium regale perhaps, with it’s white trumpet and pink-red petal reverse. Or a Martagon lily, a Turk’s cap with its chandelier of flowers, adding colour and scent to a shady dappled corner. ‘Claude Shride’ is a beautiful dark earthy maroon, ‘Sunny Morning’ a beautiful positive sunburst orange.
As I write, the sun has suddenly burst through the clouds. Thinking of you today Lily more than ever X