tournesol

It is hard not to smile when you see a sunflower basking in the sunshine.

Sunflowers are known for turning toward the sun, a beautiful reminder of steadfast faithfulness and the promise to remain true. They grow tall and strong, even through wind, rain, and difficult weather, symbolizing endurance, resilience, and optimism.

In French, a sunflower is called tournesol, from tourne, meaning “turn,” and sol, meaning “sun.” Even its name captures the flower’s quiet instinct to keep turning toward the light.

“I don't think there's anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower. That's because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that's such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life." – Helen Mirren

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Keeping with National Parks Week, this Google Doodle features the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.