A few weeks ago, I stopped by a friend’s house for a quick visit on her back porch. Her sweet little girl wanted to show me the beautiful flowers on their patio and in the pots scattered throughout their backyard. She was so proud of the work she and her mom had done by planting and tending to the pretty flowers. Their effort had produced amazing results and the plants were thriving. As we walked through the yard and circled back to the patio, she had one last thing to share with me. She pointed to a lone flower that had made its way through a crack in the patio. Her sweet face as she looked up at me said it all…….”Can you believe this? This one is growing right here.”
That little plant continued to haunt my thoughts long after I left my friend’s home…..so much so that I asked my friend to send me a picture of it.
Standing alone and against all odds, that little plant was thriving. It had dug its roots into the soil, pushed through the crack in the pavement, and had its head tilted to the sun. It doesn’t receive regular watering or tending, but yet it lives and grows.
Focused…..strong….resilient……a survivor……
Like this plant’s experience, our lives aren’t without trials and hardships. We weren’t promised that we wouldn’t face difficult times. Everyone has experienced a season in life when we felt just like this little plant; when we were seemingly standing alone, against all odds, not sure how we would get through or survive.
But yet in these times, from somewhere deep within us, comes a strength and resilience we didn’t necessarily know we had. We dig into the soil of our faith to firmly plant our roots; we push through believing that better days are ahead; we turn our faces to the “Son” for warmth, guidance, and reassurance; we rely on loved ones and friends to tend to us and help us through.
And with our faith, what once seemed overwhelming, we are able to survive. Throughout our struggle and our healing process, just like the little plant, we become focused……stronger…..more resilient…..a survivor……and we become better than when we started. With our faith, we are able to come through a difficult time standing so tall and strong that someone is certain to look at us with the sweet expression of “Can you believe this? You made it through! You are blooming right here!”
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
originally written 06/03/2020