Growing up, we lived near the
families of two of my dad’s brothers and I was close to a couple of cousins who
were about my age. As my younger siblings began arriving, so did younger
cousins—all of whom we considered the “little kids.” It’s amazing how distant
five or six years seem during our formative years, and how such age differences
shrink into insignificance as adults.
Crystal was one of the little
kids, so after my family moved away when I was seventeen we lost touch for many
years. About five years ago Crystal started calling occasionally and we’d talk
awhile, but still didn’t know one another well. Eventually though, we
discovered that we are both passionate about God in a way that many others in
our extended family are not; and a spiritual bond began to form.
The last few years have been
very difficult for Crystal, with catastrophic illnesses plaguing her husband
that have left him permanently disabled; a multitude of other cascading
problems; and, in just the last year, she lost both parents as well as two of
other close family members. Sinking into a place of deep despair, she continued
crying out to God and, as always, He has been faithful. I share the background
of Crystal’s difficulties to illustrate the wonder of the sufficiency of our
Lord, even in the midst of our most desperate times. In her words…
I was walking the puppies, and
out near the edge of our mowed lawn is the wilder part where the more natural
grasses grow up to a height of about 18 inches.
It’s early spring and the
wildflowers have just started to bloom here and there. Over the years, as I’ve
taken photos of our flowers, I’ve found that some of my very favorites are the
tiny wild flowers. At first glance, looking down at them from about five feet
above, they don’t look all that impressive. But when I bend down and focus on
the tiny blooms, some not more than an inch across, I am amazed to see the
glorious details of the little petals and stamens, complete with pollen.
This day, walking near the edge
of the lawn, I noticed a lone grouping of three fronds of one of these little
Missouri wildflowers. It was white and delicate with little yellow stamens.
I wondered, “Will this little
flower survive without anyone but the good Lord up above watering it and caring
for it?” I also pondered the question, “What good will this little flower
be? If I hadn’t just happened to walk
out here, nobody would even have enjoyed its beauty.”
Just then, a huge
black-and-yellow-striped bumblebee, about an inch long and a half-inch wide,
buzzed in and landed on the tiny wildflower. This is the kind of bumblebee I
used to see growing up in Northern California where we used to love to catch
them in the lupine bushes in quart glass Mason jars because we always liked to
hear them “sing” as they buzzed.
It was always fun to find one
that had lots of pollen dots on its back legs, gathered and distributed along
its travels. I’ve since learned that many flowers don’t pollinate unless a bee
comes along to do it for them.
So, here was this little lone
wildflower and I watched, mesmerized, as the big bumblebee adeptly and
carefully visited each and every little open petal.
I felt ashamed that I had so
quickly judged the seemingly insignificant wildflower. I wasn’t the only one to
enjoy its beauty—I was but one of many, including the Good Lord up above, the
angels, and all the other birds and bees flying about.
Suddenly I didn’t feel like
such a lone wildflower living out in the wilderness. The Spirit spoke to me and
said that I am never alone, but that God Himself always makes plans to visit me
and deposit within me bits of Himself, where they can stay forever, producing
His life. Then, as I am filled with Him, I can be like the bumblebee and spread
the beauty of His love to other flowers (people) I come in contact with.
May we all decide now to be
like industrious little bumblebees, pollinating with His life all the
wildflowers and cultivated flowers with whom the LORD allows us to
interact. We do this by sharing His
light; by walking in His light. We do this by not reacting badly, even when
others do so. We do this when we shine with His glory because we have been
swimming in it ourselves, and it just exudes out of us effortlessly.
What wonderful details and
symmetry God has placed on our little blue planet!
So today, praise Him,
especially if you identify with being a lone little wildflower living out in
the wilderness because… “He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I
shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
== Written by: Barbara Parker (Standing In Faith Ministries) ==
I hope you were blessed. May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you and your family. Feel free to share, leave your comments and reactions. We would love to hear from you.
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