This mini rose inspires me. She is a study in perseverance... and hope. Over ten years ago, my Daddy pulled her from a crack in the cement and asked if I'd like her. I had my doubts that she'd make it, but who turns away a gift rose from Daddy, right? Well, she DID grow (obviously)! Not only that, but she's made two moves with us, and was a regular deer snack until I moved her to the fenced garden (so I guess that's three moves). As if that's not enough, in the midst of the deer snacking, she kept blooming! Parts of the plant are quite healthy, and others not so much. And yet she continues to produce these stunning blooms year after year.
I want to be like her. I want it to be said of me that, when I went through the really tough times, when it felt as if the ground was ripped out from under me, that I dug my roots down deep into Christ, held on tight, and let Him grow me, feed me, and lift me up. That when the monster deer attacked, I kept blooming anyway. And that my life brought beauty to those around me and attention to the One who made me who I am and who brought me growth and made me to bloom.
Parts of me, too, are quite healthy...and other parts, not so much. It's been a tough haul lately, and so many things seem up in the air. Not just for me, but also for those I love most. But it's okay- I know a Guy. The Master Master Gardener. And He knows just what will help us grow best. If we let Him, He'll plant our feet in the solid ground. And yes, He may add some compost (He knows that manure helps things grow stronger). And He will bring the rain to refresh. And the Son will shine on us.
And we will bloom our hearts out. Even in the in-between.
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5
I want to be like her. I want it to be said of me that, when I went through the really tough times, when it felt as if the ground was ripped out from under me, that I dug my roots down deep into Christ, held on tight, and let Him grow me, feed me, and lift me up. That when the monster deer attacked, I kept blooming anyway. And that my life brought beauty to those around me and attention to the One who made me who I am and who brought me growth and made me to bloom.
Parts of me, too, are quite healthy...and other parts, not so much. It's been a tough haul lately, and so many things seem up in the air. Not just for me, but also for those I love most. But it's okay- I know a Guy. The Master Master Gardener. And He knows just what will help us grow best. If we let Him, He'll plant our feet in the solid ground. And yes, He may add some compost (He knows that manure helps things grow stronger). And He will bring the rain to refresh. And the Son will shine on us.
And we will bloom our hearts out. Even in the in-between.
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5