Sunday, January 18, 2009

The flower flourishes and fades away....


My Christmas Cactus which is blooming for the second time since November.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes,
When the wind has passed over it,
It is no more;
And its place acknowledges it no longer.
But the lovingkindness of the Lord is
From everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children's children,
To those who keep His covenant,
And who remember his precepts
To do them.

~Psalm 103:17, 18



There is very little flourishing outdoors in this season of winter, but indoors, I am watching another flourish of blossoms shooting forth from my Christmas Cactus. It fully bloomed back before Thanksgiving and as the flowers dried up and fell, I noticed tiny new buds were coming on. I didn't really think that they would mature since it produced such a bountiful bust of blooms, but it did. What beauty and what joy it brings to me each time I walk into my laundry room where the south sun can still pour through my windows even at this, the darkest time of the year and see a riotous burst of color and form.

Most of the year, my Christmas Cactus stands in its clay pot, fairly obscure except for its generous size. It demands very little of me. I water it once a week or so and occasionally I give it a little fertilizer after the blooming time is past. When the flowers appear, it is hard not to stop and notice, to look deeply at the flower and see the intricacy of its form and beauty. I often wonder at it and think, "My family and I and just a few others are the only ones who will ever see these gorgeous flowers." It blooms profusely each year, and yet very few will ever appreciate it. I often think this way when I'm out walking through my pastures in the springtime when the first blooms of the prairie are springing up. Hardly a person, if any, will ever notice the low-growing buttercups or violets in my pasture, and I surely don't see every single one of them, and yet, God created them. He put them exactly in their spot to do what flowers do -- grow and bloom and then fade away where no one will acknowledge them again. So it is with man. We are put here for just a season to grow, then bloom and flourish, as the Bible says, and we are no more. In all the world, only a few people will ever know you intimately. A few will say they are acquainted with you, and others will say they've heard of you. But God placed you and me exactly where we are for His purposes which we may never fully understand. As for me, I don't need to understand, but I pray that I will flourish and grow out here in the Middle Of Nowhere, according to His purpose, where just a few will ever notice my blooming. I will fade away, but the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.

10 comments:

  1. Jody,

    Well now...this truly speaks to my soul today. I've been pondering a very similar vein of thinking since I woke up this morning and delved into some of Elisabeth Elliot's old newsletters during my QT. It's all about Him anyway, isn't it?

    But just FYI, I appreciate your blooms, however brief they may be. You've made difference to this one!

    Blessings,
    Joyce

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  2. What a beautiful lesson in this post, Jody. ThanX so much for sharing.

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  3. You may be in the middle of nowhere, but your blog is reaching out and touching many of us. Have a good day.

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  4. A great post and a great lesson. Just what I needed this morning - thank you!

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  5. That's the most beautiful Christmas Cactus I have ever seen and your thoughts so true! I too agree with Mary, you are reaching many!

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  6. Thank you all for the kind comments. If you visit here, I want you to know that I don't write to "reach anyone" really, but rather, I do this blog-thing to journal about my days and my thoughts. I love my mostly secluded life and I know that God has put me here for a reason....to bloom where I am planted.

    It makes me think of one of the flower beds I had this year. There were some onions and peppers planted amongst the shrub roses and tulips and things. I didn't hear any of those flowers ask, "Jody, why did you plant me here next to the onions?" I had a plan and a purpose.

    Jody

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  7. Hi Jody,

    What a lovely post. Thanks.

    I've often looked at creation and thought about how generous God is. Not only does He supply us with our needs, but he lovingly gives us little treasures and glimpses of His glory along the way. That beautiful cactus is a slice of God's glory revealed just for you.

    My Christmas cactus is confused. It's getting ready to bloom for Valentine's Day. I can't wait!

    Thanks for blooming the way God intended you to,
    Cassie

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  8. What a lovely comparison of our season to that of a flower. And how blessed we are to have the internet, so that we can be aquainted during your blooming season!

    And darn-it-all -- I just can't stand the taste of coffee. I guess I'll just have to risk the big A LOL.

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  9. Jody, I'm doing a bit of catching up so reading this entry a bit late. It has been an inspiration to me this morning and really ministered to my heart. Thank you for blooming in the place God has placed you.

    Ann

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  10. Your Christmas cactus is beautiful, Jody. I received a mature and lovely one from my father-in-law. It was blooming nicely when he gave it to me (two years ago). It's the last time it's ever bloomed, and I have done everything I can think of! Fertilizer, dark room at night, sunny window, cramped pot. Maybe it needs more light? If you have any ideas, I would appreciate them. It does grow new green leaf shoots very well.

    Thank you!
    LaTeaDah

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