| The Story of Heather
In 2003, my dear friend Alastair and I were in Scotland, driving around aimlessly in the Highlands, when we happened to stop in a small village.
Wandering around on foot, Alastair suddenly burst out laughing, standing in front of the window of a small gift shop. Inside he saw a large tea towel, printed on which
was The Story of Heather. He quickly bought it for me and it became one of the longest running jokes of my life. The entire week we spent in Scotland and the following week in London, whenever there was a dull moment,
Alastair would burst out with a line from the tea towel story, and instantly start laughing. We told his family about it, we made his Father read it aloud in his thick Scottish brogue, and a good time was had by all.
Now it's your turn to share in the joke that is The Story of Heather.
The Story of Heather
When God had created the world, He looked at the bare hillsides and decided that a plant was needed to beautify the slopes.
He asked the giant Oak, strongest of all trees, but he declined saying that the soil was too shallow for him to take root and flourish.
God then approached the yellow-flowered Honeysuckle to see if she would spread her beauty and fragrance throughout the hills. She too refused because there was nothing in the inhospitable terrain against which she could grow.
The Rose, sweetest of all the flowers, was God's next choice. However she explained that she would not be able to survive the hillside's bitter winds and driving rain.
Disappointed, God turned away and chanced upon a small low lying green shrub with tiny petals; some purple, some white.
It was HEATHER!
God asked the Heather, "Will you grow upon the hillsides to make them more beautiful?"
The Heather reflected on the poor soil and harsh climate and was not sure whether she could do the job, but to God's delight, replied that if He wanted her to try, she would do her best.
God was so pleased with the Heather that He decided to bestow three gifts on her.
The strength of the Oak - the bark of the Heather is stronger than that of any other tree or shrub.
The fragrance of the Honeysuckle - the Heather's gentle fragrance is used to perfume soaps, potpourris, and cosmetics.
The sweetness of the Rose - the sweetness of the Heather makes her one of the bee's favourite flowers.
And to this day Heather is renowned for these three God-given gifts as she fulfills her God-given task.
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