Sunflowers… An unexpected truth

Who would have thought that field of sunflowers we pass over & over throughout the years, would suddenly seem so much more meaningful in just one morning.

My mom decided to again "hack" my blog to post her thoughts, spurred on by a beautiful field of sunflowers.

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I look forward to the sunflower fields this time of year.  

I watch as they stretch up to the sky so quickly.  

Each morning I check their progress… how long til they bloom, tomorrow, the next day.  

Because the season is brief.  

Miss a day watching, or a storm blows through and they have passed their peak.  

Their brilliance is past prime.  

This year I caught them. 

 I even stopped on the way to work and took pictures.  (Sorry for trespassing random field owner, but thanks!)

This morning, I passed them again.  

They are droopy now. 

 Heads bent down, brilliant yellow petals starting to fade.  

Soon, they will be down right UGLY.

But this morning they spoke to me in their droopiness.  

I drove by 

and thought, 

“I feel like those sunflowers”.  

I want everyone to see me at my best, 

like those beautiful tall proud sunflowers in full bloom.  

Strong.  

Tall.  

Beautiful.  

Confident.  

But the reality is often so different.  

I’m tired. 

 Stressed. 

 Lonely. 

 Feeling totally past my peak. 

Should I try to fake it.  

Try to put on a mask and make it all look lovely.  (I don’t think they make masks that good.)

That’s when the Holy Spirit started whispering to my heart.  

Yes, I am tired.  

I am incapable of doing everything that needs to be done. 

 I am lonely, even in a house full of kids, when my best friend and partner is on the other side of the world.

 I am struggling to stay upright some moments.  

There is still work to be done.  

80+ kids in Uganda to care for plus mine at home, a business to run, patients to care for.  

But He says, “It’s ok, My grace is sufficient for you”

I pondered on the sunflowers some more. 

 What is the purpose of a sunflower plant. 

 Beauty?  

Definitely!  

Scripture clearly states that creation is meant to glorify our God.

But is there more??  

There must be more my heart cries.  

Otherwise, why is the beauty so brief!  

But… 

thankfully… 

there is more.  

They provide shelter in the heat and FOOD.  

Nourishment for other creatures big and small.  

But still, 

there’s more…

 they exist to create more sunflowers!!  

As each seed falls to the ground, there is potential!!  

Each seed can fall to the ground and die to itself.  

As it does it is renewed and sprouts to life and grows into newness.  

That one sunflowers producing thousands of seeds each of which has the potential to produce thousands of more sunflowers.  

A simple truth, but one my soul needed this morning.

Then I reflected on my own life.  

I want to stay tall and confident and unflawed.  

But the reality is that is not the purpose of my life.  

Yes, there will be seasons where I pray I reflect the Glory of my Creator and shine His beauty. 

 But there will be other seasons that are different.  

Seasons where He calls me to feed His sheep.  

Literally?  Yes!  

Figuratively?  Yes!  

Its not just a lovely theory, 

its the reality where serving Him in tangible ways kicks in.  

Will it be hard, yes.  

(Like plucking the seeds off a sunflower head.)  

Is it necessary, 

absolutely.  

It is essential if I want to live the life He created me to live.  

Its sharing His love, being His hands and feet.  

It’s getting dirty and having my heart break over and over and over.  

But its ok, 

its His plan.  

Because, when I am weak, then He is strong!

Thankfully on days like this, 

deep down, 

I know there is still more.  

It’s His plan.  

I was also created to share His love, His plan for mankind.  

I am called to be a part of bringing His Kingdom to Earth.  

I am called to be a part of His divine plan to bring more of His children back into his fold.  I am called to be a part of repeating this pattern of living and dying to self to bring forth new life.  

Beautiful.  

Humbling.  

Hard.  

Worth it.

To be honest, I’m not always a fan of the hard stuff.  

I like those days when the sun shines,

 the skies are blue 

and I stand strong and lovely. 

 The other stuff… dying to self, pouring out my life, living to serve God and His children… 

It’s hard.  

We want to gloss over it, 

Christian it up.  

But I want to walk and speak in truth.  

It will be hard, 

and that’s ok.  

Serving Him is guaranteed to bring seasons of work and suffering.  

Jesus told us to take up our crosses, not settle into comfort.  

He promised difficulties and persecution.  

There is no part of the Bible where God told us that His ways would be easy.  

But, these seasons prepare us to be a part of an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  

I will strive to rejoice in the hard times and be thankful for this life that God called me into.  

I will continue to stand in His strength when mine is gone.  

I will continue to feed His sheep and live my life to bring His Kingdom to a hurting world. 

So, if I look ragged… I probably am.  

Stand with me. 

Together we will be stronger.  

We can bring His hope and glory and light into this darkness.

Just like that field of sunflowers!!