Each year, I look forward to the spring and summer months. The weather gets warmer and the days are longer. Usually, I clear out all the fallen leaves and weeds from the winter in preparation to plant new flowers. I’ll admit that I don’t have a green thumb. Every time I plant flowers, they bloom for a few weeks and die shortly thereafter. So, I sought counsel from my mom. She and my dad work faithfully each year to make their yard look immaculate. She suggested that I wasn’t digging the roots deep enough. When I heard this, my heart sank a little. The ground surrounding my mailbox was very firm. It took a lot of sweat to make the shallow hole currently existing there. Since I was tired of wasting money, I hauled out my shovel once again to deepen the hole for my newly purchased pink and red dianthus. These flowers perfectly matched my new flags and I was eager to set them out.
I spent extra time clearing a spot for my treasured beauties. Pulling out dead roots, pushing back rocks, and breaking up hard ground caused my shoulders to ache. Sweat trickled underneath my shirt. After several minutes, the flowers were neatly secured in the softly tilled ground. Satisfied with my work, I smooth over multi-colored pebbles and hung my mailbox flag completing the presentation. The weather in North Carolina changes literally every day. Now, imagine my dismay the next morning to frost covering the ground and my intricately planted flowers. The days continued with cool mornings and the occasional rainfall. The flowers withered and my countenance fell. Surely, my hard work was in vain. Finally, I pruned away the dead flowers and decided to await the next season instead of uprooting all my labor. To my surprise, new flowers bloomed with each passing day. They flourished as more flowers appeared than those originally planted! Since they had deep roots, the harsh conditions couldn’t kill them.
This real-life example is applicable to our current state in the world. The virus caused us to shelter into our homes. We had to socially distance from friends and family. Many people felt as though they’re in hiding. What about all the goals set earlier this year? It’s like we’re waiting for our lives to begin again. I believe God is preparing us in this season. We are being hidden in Christ. More than ever, we are seeing the importance of worship and prayer. Our faith is being strengthened. As we come out of these cold, dark months, our lights will shine bright. Those in the world are feeling hopeless, and they need our message. Just as my voluminous pink flowers catch the eye of all who pass by, our lives will display a hope that entices the on-looker. There’s a great harvest coming. Jesus is returning soon! May I encourage you to deepen your roots. Strengthen your faith. Then bloom for all to see.
Be encouraged! 😊 *I do not own rights to this photo.*
Scripture References: Psalms 1:2-3 (NLT) “But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
Matthew 9:36-38 (AMP) “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. So, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
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