One of my favorite flowers is the sunflower.  Last year my husband secretly planted the golden beauties as a “happy” for me to enjoy through the summer, and that I did! 

Our lives became busy this year and the season passed without our sunflower planting.  But we knew as much as we love the flowers, the inhabitants of our bird houses and feeders love the seed.  So sunflower seeds became the main entrée for the birds on Baker’s Hill.  I would fuss from time to time at their pickiness.  Their little wings would flutter about pushing the seeds around and down, as they seemed to search for just the right one to satisfy their palate.  All the while the little seeds being pushed aside and to the ground were taking root in the fertile soil below.  Once again, within a few weeks, I had beautiful sunflowers at the edge of our patio.

One afternoon recently I pulled out the hose to give our surprise flowers a drink.  As they became heavy with water, they drooped downward until they were only inches from the ground.  As they gradually shed the water, inch by inch, they lifted their faces again.  Later in the afternoon, they stood tall and proud.  As I fingered the softness of their pedals, I realized I had 

something in common with this beautiful flower. I go happily along, doing my thing,

 enjoying the busyness of life.  Then suddenly I get a good drenching of frustrations, heartaches, serious troubles, and I bow low.  The weight seems more than I can bear.  It’s only after I shed my questions of “Why me?” and  questioning of  my terrible plight, that I am able to raise my head and continue my journey.  Growing pains hurt in any stage of life. There’s never a good time to experience pain.  But setbacks and hurts can make us stronger and grow us to maturity if we allow it to happen.  As has been said, “Life makes us bitter or better.”

The cold blast of water to our sunflowers on that hot late summer afternoon was shocking  and their sunny heads  bent low.  But because of it, they grew even more beautiful and strong.

I love the way  God takes something as fragile as a flower and  reminds me that all things work together for  good, if only I am willing to grow from it. Who would have ever thought sunflowers could show me anything but beauty! 
 

                                                                        "If God  is for us, who can be against us."
                                                                                                  Romans 8:31

The Sanctuary It's A Matter Of Choice Bloom Where Youre Planted Fishing At Its Best Sacrifices Of Praise

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