The Little Grape Stem

Once upon a time there was a little grape stem. This stem was so glad
to be alive… She drank water and minerals from the soil and grew and
grew. She was young and strong and could manage quite well… all by
Herself — or so she thought.

But then, the wind was cruel, the rain was harsh, the snow was not one
bit understanding, and the little grape stem suffered. She drooped,
weak and suffering.

It would be so easy to stop trying to grow, to stop trying to live.
The grape stem became weak! The winter was long, and the stem was weary.
But then the little grape stem heard a voice. It was another grape
stem calling out to her… "Here, reach out… hang on to me." But the
stem hesitated.

"What would this mean?" she thought, for you see, the little stem had
always managed quite well… all by herself.

But then, every so cautiously, she reached out towards the other grape
stem. "See, I can help you" it said. "Just wind your tendrils about me
and I will help you lift your head." And the little stem trusted…
and suddenly she could stand straight again.

The wind came, and the rain, and the snow, but when it came, the grape
stem was clinging to many other stems. And although the stems were
swayed by the wind, frozen by the snow, they stood strongly united to
each other. And in their group supporting strength they could all
smile and grow.

Then, one day the little stem looked down and saw a tiny stem,
swaying, frightened. And ‘our’ grape stem said, "Here, hang on… I
will help you." And the other little stem reached up to ‘our’ grape
stem, and together all the stems grew… leaves budded… flowers
bloomed… and finally, grapes formed… and all the grapes fed many.