A few weeks ago I was helping my son-in-law harvest corn. I had the fun job of driving the grain cart from the combine to the waiting semi where my son-in-law unloaded the combined corn and then hauled it to waiting bins.
On one of those days as I was waiting for the equipment to come to the south end of the field where I was standing (no I wasn’t late to work, they just started early), I immediately noticed that the weather conditions were something we would have to endure that day. Even though the sun was shining there was a very brisk 35 mile an hour wind blowing from the north and the air temperature was below freezing as it had been for several days.
As I looked down, I saw a dandelion blooming in the grass a short distance from where I was standing. What an amazing sight! All of the other plant life in the field had been touched by frost and yet amongst the grass was this touch of yellow brightening my day.
It was then that I thought of the saying “Bloom where you are planted.”
Later, when I got back to my office I goggled that phrase thinking that it probably was a proverb or found elsewhere in the Bible. It was not. It is just a saying that has been shared from generation to generation. Yet, it still has meaning for us today.
God desires that wherever He has planted us we are to bloom and cheer the lives of others like this small dandelion did that cold blustery morning a few weeks ago. Wherever God decides to plant us we are to share God’s magnificent love given to us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for us. We are to share that unconditional love through word and deed with those who grace our lives as we travel along our life’s journey here on earth.
There are at times when blooming is difficult. When confronted with daily trials and tribulations we find it difficult to be positive and sharing the love of Christ is not high on our “to do” list. It is at those times that thinking of the blooming dandelion may be the inspiration to give us hope and help us gain strength as we struggle with the trials of life. You no doubt have seen a flower emerging from a crack in the sidewalk and later bloom just as if it was with his friends in your garden. One cannot help but wonder how that struggling plant is able to get enough nutrients and water to grow when it is surrounded by hard concrete in all directions.
We, on the other hand, know that in order to be an effective bloomer for Christ our source of nutrition comes from our personal faith in Christ. We rely for spiritual food on our faith and thus are able to minister (bloom) in tough times.
Blooming brings blessings. We are blessed when we are able to serve in God’s name and hopefully those whom we are serving are blessed because of our efforts in sharing God’s love in a variety of ways. Being blessed translates into joy. Tremendous joy is ours when we are serving the Lord in whatever capacity He deems.
I trust that all of us as God’s children are blooming for Him each and every day. I trust that we won’t allow our blooms to diminish or stop blooming altogether because of struggles in our life. God has planted you in the spot in which He wants you to bloom. In doing so He will provide all you need to do just that.
Bloom where you are planted, Pastor Walt