Brandi Boddie: Gazing at Flowers

"See how the lillies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

Matthew 6:28-30

I've always admired gardens. Back in the Midwest where I grew up, people planted beds of English roses and peonies on their front lawns. Often it was shaded by the ethereal branches of a weeping willow tree.

Out here in Colorado, the high desert climate is unsuitable for plants requiring large amounts of water or partial shade, but this state does provide its share of rugged beauty. When I pass by a cactus blooming in the sandy soil or marvel at how an aloe vera can remain green during drought, I am reminded of how God takes care of all His creation. Each flower blooms where it is planted. Pine trees grow high in the Rocky Mountains where most people have trouble adjusting to the altitude.

Photo by Liz Noffsinger

It makes me think, "Wow, God can enable life to grow in all places, not just perfect conditions."

As I wait for my husband to return home from his deployment in four weeks, I have moments of anxiety about his readjustment in the States. It's been a year. My mind spins at how long we've lived apart. While there is excitement in his homecoming, there is also the possiblity that the Army will have us move a final time, just when we've planted ourselves in Colorado.

I'm certain God can hear my flesh screaming, "But I don't want to move. I have established roots here. Friends, a community of fellow writers, a good church. I can't just be ripped away from all that and thrust into who knows where under who knows what conditions."

But God does know where my husband and I will ultimately end up, whether we stay in Colorado or have to move away for a year. If it's His will for us to leave temporarily, He won't cruelly rip us out of the ground. Like a careful gardener, He will lovingly transfer us to a new plot of land, cradling our roots because they are firmly grounded in Him. He knows what conditions are needed for us to thrive.

When I feel myself starting to worry, I return to the verses of Matthew 6. When I need a living illustration of this truth, I drive to one of the many hiking trails near my home to look at the vegetation. If our Heavenly Father can enable an oak tree to grow out of the side of a rocky cliff, with no bed of plush grass, little water, and blazing sunlight, then He can surely take care of me.

As a child of God, I am able to bloom wherever I am planted.

Do you garden? Do you keep plants in your home?