The other day I pulled into a store parking lot and noticed this little weed growing right in the asphalt. It struck me that it was growing there with no visible dirt and hot surroundings.
Then I remembered another example of growing in a difficult place. The picture below is of Seasons Flowers, the florist where my daughter Laura works. If you look closely, you will notice a little purple splotch where the parking lot meets the sidewalk.
This is what you are seeing. It's a little petunia. It has been growing there, blooming with different colors all summer!
This makes me think about myself, and where I am planted. It's been a difficult situation at my work recently. New forms, new reports and it seems much more is expected in the same amount of time. I've been frustrated and I'm sorry to say that I've been more like the weed. I'm there, doing what I need to do, but not always with a smile and often complaining to friends and family. I think God calls us to be more like the little petunia and bloom. He puts us in the situations we are in for a reason and I don't think it's to just get through it. I am going to pray for more strength and patience and try to bloom where I am planted!
O.K. WOW! Is that a convicting post or WHAT!!!! Thanks Mari for making me see myself and for such a wonderful Picture of God's plans for us and how we are to view them! I do have a question for you though "who do you define when God is calling you out of a situation?" You can ask Bob this too!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is interesting how you analyzed that one. I like how you put it all together. I am sorry about the things that you have to go through at work. Just remember that those people you care for, enjoy you and appreciate you for what you do for them. You have a great smile and don't let them people get to ya!
ReplyDeleteI hear you, and I love what you said. Many times that was the way I felt while I lived in Virginia. Great post!
ReplyDelete~ Kayren
My little sis was planting flowers once,and she drpooed some seeds on a couple of cracks in the concrete retaining wall on the side of our lot and flowers sprung up.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking a lot about this lately - bloom where you are planted. We may not really like where we are at the present time in our lives but God has a purpose for us to be right where we are for such a time as this! Where He has us planted right now and what He has for us to do can only be done the exact way He wants it by the exact person He has put there! Thanks so much for posting this - it just affirms what He's been telling me for the past month!
ReplyDeleteWonderful lesson, Mari. Thanks...
ReplyDeleteOne day we were driving down an interstate and between the pavement and the the bridge in the cement was a very tall sunflower. We all had to laugh! A SUNFLOWER?!?!
ReplyDeleteBloom where you are planted is always the thought that comes to mind too. Great post!
I love it when the Lord puts these little things in our path to remind us of small lessons we need to learn. Thanks for sharing. It's a good reminder for me as well to sprout a blossom and not a weed.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reminder!
ReplyDeleteOuch!
ReplyDeleteI've been really busy with packing, unpacking, cleaning, the beginning of the new school year that I have fallen waaaay behind in my Blog reading!
However, this post was very providential for me! It can be painful to realize where we fall short----and I often find myself not "blooming" where I am planted too.
I want to be like the petunia! Thank you for taking the time to post and write your reflections. This really ministered to me! :)
Your post reminds me that like all flowers, we too need to be "dead headed"...to have the old blossoms pinched off so new blossoms can flourish..and bloom where they're planted. Life is full of the times where we need a little spiritual dead heading.
ReplyDeleteYour work is so important, I know that you bless people daily-you are called to your profession...it isn't just a job.
Always a great reminder.
ReplyDeleteGood analogy!!! Made me think about my life and the situations that I've been in!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this great post Mari.I often find words of wisdom from your posts.Thanks,Patty
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I think it must be humorous to the non-bloggers out there to run into us bloggers as we take pictures of everything we do....flowers coming out of asphalt....gas station signs as the prices go down....the exchanges of old dishwashers to new ones....whatever. I'm glad to know others are like me....finding the grace of God in every little thing. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of choosing what God calls us to do. Great analogy to bring this point to light.
ReplyDeleteOh Mari, thanks I needed that also. What a great analogy!! Do it for the Lord not man, and focus on your residents, they love you!! So do I:)
ReplyDeleteMy minister gave a sermon on this exact thing! Thanks for sharing your examples.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mari. I needed that this morning.
ReplyDeletegood post- very insightful
ReplyDeleteaw yes! that petunia growing out of the curb is really neat!!! and THAT IS a great representation of what we were planted on this world to do.
ReplyDeleteThat is adorable, Mari. When I worked at Wal-Mart, I always used to pray for God to give me wisdom and strength to endure.
ReplyDeleteisn't it neat how God speaks loudly through little flowers, blooming through cement or even concrete tiles ... :o)
ReplyDeletei love the way He does that! *grin*
You should have seen the petunias we grew in the cracks this year - and we never watered them once. There were whole plants! There was a white one that had about ten blooms on it!
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