Have you ever enjoyed looking at a bouquet of flowers, mesmerized by the beauty of the bouquet where there may be many different colors, different sizes, different shapes, and even different kinds of flowers?
Did you notice how each is unique and beautiful in its own way? Maybe you liked the color of a particular one, or maybe a particular kind of flower is your favorite and brings back a special memory of some event in your life.
Isn’t that just like the people in your life? We are all different, even coming in different colors, sizes, and shapes! Each of us brings different things to life and have different gifts to share with one another. When we all work together, despite our differences, we are a beautiful representation of God’s handiwork. It is just like the beauty that a variety of flowers brought together can reflect.
Photo courtesy of C. Palmiter
When you first get a bouquet of flowers, the flowers might be just starting to bud, and over a period of a few days, you might notice the flowers opening up more and being at their full bloom state.
Taking the time to listen to others and share God’s love with one another is like the flowers that are reaching their full bloom state. We are sprouting, growing nice and tall, opening up to reflect some of God’s mercy and goodness to those around us.
If God’s love does not fill our lives, we are more like the poor, wilting flowers, and we can’t survive long that way.
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To preserve the bouquet of flowers for the longest period of time, what do they need?
…Fresh water daily
…the sun,
…and maybe even a little pruning to their stems.
Isn’t that just like us?
Daily, we need…
…God’s Word to refresh us.
…The “Son” being reflected in our lives to others.
…Receiving the “Son” from others in our lives.
Sometimes, we need a little “pruning” or correction in our lives to get us back on the path of following Him. It may be painful but He is always there ready to love us and guide us back to Him. He is our Loving Father!
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For “All man are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you. –1 Peter 1:23-25 (NIV)