“Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.” Matthew 6:28
Here in my island neighborhood, there is something blooming all the time! Spring feels basically the same as winter, summer, and fall. For those of you feeling the hint or wishing for spring, take a deep breath as you read. I’m sending you some aloha air!
As much as I love all the blooms around me. I do miss Texas bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, dogwood, azaleas, tulips, snowball and rose bushes this time of year.
Recently I was trying to arrange some dried fall-colored roses in a vase. First let me say, I don’t have a floral arranging gift. Second, I’m not sure why rearranging these dead, falling apart roses was a task I tackled. Except I wanted to keep these dried remnants, a reminder of those who lovingly put them fresh in my hands.
Matthew and Luke’s gospels record Jesus’ words about the beauty of lilies and how God arranges and dresses them. The truth of the Jesus Way tells us the Father cares for us more than the lilies of the field. And calls us to die. To die to ourselves, our way of arranging life. The life he breathes into us shapes us. He becomes the master arranger. Jesus takes what’s given to him to prune and transform. The old becomes new.
My flower arrangement doesn’t have the elegance of creative hands and it won’t last forever. But for now, it still reminds me of love bestowed on me.
Our Master Designer’s wonder working love and delight in and for us is bestowed now and forever.