Lessons from a Flower Bed

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of putting together a flower bed in my front yard with a dear friend of mine. She came over to show me what to do because I had no clue! However, after a few hours of working and planting, I was hooked on gardening-- an instant flower addict. Now, around this same time, I had been told that I may be switching grade levels for the next school year.

I was totally fine with this! I even found a cute little saying one day on Pinterest that read, "Bloom Where You Are Planted." "How perfect!" I thought. Ah, what a carefree life I'm living with my happy, little catchphrase, easy-going attitude, and cute new flower bed..

Fast forward to last Sunday.

As my husband and I were finishing a relaxing weekend out of town for a friend's wedding, he got a call about a coaching job. A great job. Even though we hadn't been looking for a job, this one fell into our laps and immediately we started talking and praying. As we prayed over the next couple of days, the Lord began opening the doors wide open for us to leave. Everything was working out great! We both were offered jobs and all the details were falling into place. On Thursday, it all hit me. In all the excitement I hadn't really thought about the fact that taking this job meant leaving the town that we had come to know and love. That may sound silly-- not to think about the fact that moving would mean leaving the town you currently live in--but, in all the chaos, I hadn't really thought much about it. I went for a run to clear my head and got angry. "Lord," I prayed, " I think that You misunderstood me. When I adopted my cute, little catchphrase, ' Bloom Where You Are Planted,' I was referring to being planted in the 2nd or the 4th grade hall. I don't want to re-plant myself far away from my friends and the things I know. I just did my flower beds, for goodness sake!" Praise Him for being big enough to take our anger and understand our babble..

In the last mile of my run, through tears and fear of the unknown, I heard Him say, "I've got this. You're going to be fine." This should've been enough of an answer, but I am, by nature, pretty stubborn. My mind worries works in terms of what's going to happen in the next 5-10 years, so I argued God's peaceful reminder of His power with the fear that this must be how it will always be. I will make friends and put down "roots," only to be ripped up again in a few years and planted somewhere else. I cannot bloom. I will probably wither. I am not cut out for this.

But then, with His constant love, the Lord quieted my fears and silenced the Enemy's attacks with the Truth. "His power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9) "For I know the plans I have for you.." (Jer. 29:11) Hard to argue with that.

During the last few days, I have not felt 100% brave or ready to move, but I have felt the Holy Spirit holding me. I cannot worry about making friends or putting down "roots" in this new place. I don't have another option. What good is a flower that doesn't bloom? What good is an apple tree if it doesn't produce fruit? I may have pinned that cute little saying onto a Pinterest board, but my Savior pinned the call to "bloom" on me long before that.

The Lord crafted a wonderful, prosperous plan for us before we were even born. The re-planting is all part of that plan. If I look at this move from that perspective, it's hard to see any other choice but to listen to Him and follow His lead. He tells us in His word that He will provide for our needs-- whatever those needs may be.

Maybe you're like me, and you're on the verge of a big change. Rest in His Truth, please. When you transplant a flower, you bring the roots with you and place them in a new container or in the soil. What happens next? The roots begin to take in the nutrients from the new soil, and, with proper care from their gardener, they will flourish in their new environment. This is the perfect picture of God moving His children--literally or figuratively-- in His Will. He asks us to bring our roots with us. That's our salvation and the Truths we claim from The Word. He will supply our nutrients-- love from our spouses, new friends and church families, and He always gives us the care we need. He knows our hearts and He will always hear us.

Moral of the story: When God calls, you need only to trust and obey. He will take care of the rest.

Also, maybe be careful what you pin. You might get called on it;)