I have a potted fern that’s been limping along for several years now. It would waver between sparse and dried out looking and then would take a turn for the better and start filling out and show more green. I wasn’t sure if it wanted more or less sun, more water etc. At one point, my mom saw it and said, “You know what that pot needs? A new plant!” har har har

In the last few months it took a major downturn and lost the majority of its leaves. All that was left were a bunch of long wiry threads with a few green leaves at the ends.

I decided to give it one more chance. Last weekend I had reclaimed a narrow planter in the front yard that was trying to support a single rose bush. It got very little direct sun and the rose bush always looked pathetic and mildewed. What a relief to finally get it out of there.

I thought this would be a good place for the few strands of fern left. This evening I dug a hole then popped the fern out of the pot. Oh! No wonder! The poor thing was completely root bound. I had to wrestle with it to loosen it up enough to plant. (You gardeners out there are probably cringing. “Well, duh!” you might be saying.)

Moral of the story: (I like this one–it wasn’t completely obvious to me at first.) You enter into a situation in which you are encouraged and supported to grow and learn. You thrive. Once you’ve learned everything you are meant to learn in that situation, it is time to move on. The situation doesn’t become inherently bad, you’ve simply outgrown it. What once supported and encouraged you will eventually stifle you if you don’t leave.