Pond Lessons

Sometimes the things we see as damaged can transform into something amazing.

This past spring my family, like most families, had a lot of extra time on our hands. We were all stuck at home for days on end and we needed a project to keep us busy. Our backyard had a big wide hole in it since we moved in caused by erosion. My hubby talked about bringing in dirt to fill it, but I thought we should work with what we had and convert it to a fish pond. The years passed and we never got around to it. We never had the time. All of a sudden, we found ourselves with time.

My daughter and my hubby spent time measuring and digging and picking out the right size liner. We spent time combing the internet for the right plants to buy. We wanted to create an ideal ecosystem where the fish and the plants would feed each other. We dug up and moved around countless rocks to line the pond. When we finally filled it with water, we waited anxiously for the plants to arrive. They were very small and we weren’t sure how they would do, but we carefully transplanted them and hoped for the best.

We were delighted to see how quickly they took root, grew and multiplied. When we added fish, they hid under a big rock for over a week and it was hard to see them. The water was murky and we were a little disappointed. Everyday we would go to see if we could catch a glimpse of the shy fish. In the beginning, they were hard to find. As the days passed, the water got clearer and both the plants and fish grew.

A couple of months down the road, the fish and plants have tripled in size and the water has cleared up. We find ourselves spending hours listening to the waterfalls and watching the fish. They now know that we feed them, so they come to the surface instead of hiding when we they see us.

Our latest development has been hundreds of tadpoles added to the mix along with some snails and of course, frogs. I find myself amazed when I remember that our vibrant little ecosystem that is sustaining so much life, was just a barren crater, essentially damaged goods caused by the elements, seemingly useless at first glance.

With a little hard work, patience and faith, amazing things can happen.

Recently, as I was sitting by our little pond I reflected on the lessons it has taught me. The first is to work with what we have been given. Instead of filling in that hole with dirt to make it like the rest of the yard, we took what made it different and turned it into something unique. The second is patience. Even with all of our planning, a certain amount of waiting was required. We had to wait for the water to clear, and for the plants to grow. We had to wait for the fish to trust us. The third is faith and wonder, faith that change was coming and a sense of wonder when it did.

In times like these, I needed those lessons. Perhaps you did too.

Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂