Sometimes in life, you can pray for someone or something to blossom for a very long time with seemingly no result. Then suddenly, in some kind of special moment of divine right timing, all your care and energy is rewarded with a healing, a changed attitude, or, in the case of this morning's story, a flower bud.
Let me explain with a little real life parable: It's no secret that I love to garden; I take great joy and comfort in caring for the living things that I've planted. One of the flowers that I've most enjoyed over the years is Cosmos, but I had never before grown these beautiful pink and purple daisy-like flowers from seed. So this past spring, I bought a package of Cosmos seeds, planted them in special potting soil and waited for them to germinate. They rewarded me with dozens of tiny plants which I transplanted into pots and throughout my garden beds, imagining the beauty of those flowers to come.
I watered and fed them faithfully and they did indeed grow into tall. lush, healthy looking plants with their characteristic lace-like leaves. Every morning, I checked them for any sign of a flower bud, but they all appeared to be barren, right through to the end of summer. One day, towards the end of September, I thought about dumping the pots in the woods and giving up. But something said, "No. just wait..."
Imagine my surprise when, one week into October, after a spell of very warm weather, I walked into the garden and found that every single Cosmos plant was covered with flower buds ready to open! I have about 20 very tall plants that each have about a dozen flower buds! All my prayers, care and tending had finally paid off, in God's timing, not mine. I am trusting that those buds will open before the first frost and I will be rewarded with beautiful flowers to show to my granddaughter when she come to visit in two weeks.
Another moral: Flowers may never go to school, but they still can teach us much, if we're smart enough to pay attention to them.
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ReplyDeleteOh, Patti, how this touched my heart! My passion for many years was gardening … and cosmos were my favorites along with foxglove. In later years, with getting so many bionic parts, my gardens all had to be plowed under. I know you know how I felt! Please put me on your list. I’m so grateful to Karyn for asking you to include me. She and Lance are helping me through some difficult times. Blessings …. Joyce. 🥰🙏🥰
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