Some time ago, a local member, planted various flowers in Dr. King’s garden in Santa Barbara. Two of them were of a variety called Cosmos. One of these she planted in a bed at the very front of the garden, and the other in a small, hardened patch of unused soil, just to the left of Dr. King’s front door.

The regular gardening team in Santa Barbara had often tried to plant flowers in this small patch, but none of them had lasted very long. It looked as though the Cosmos by the door was going to go the same way!

While the one at the front of the garden soon began to grow and flourish, this poor plant by the door began to fade and wither. This was not for lack of water or sunlight, for both plants received a sufficient amount of each. No, it just looked as if nothing was able to grow here.

And then it all changed…

Most evenings Dr. King liked to wander out to his motor home, The Lady, for a cocktail before dinner. He could see the poor little plant by his front door was not doing very well, so he started to cheer it up!

As he stepped out and passed by it, he would talk to it and lovingly touch it, and then he would move on. Each evening he would do this, giving a few gentle words and a little encouragement.

Before long the Cosmos plant started to perk up, yet still Dr. King would talk to it. In fact, he continued to talk to it and touch it each evening, and as he did so the plant grew. And it grew and it grew, where nothing before had ever succeeded!