Flowers

The other day as I dropped one of my friends off at her home, I noticed her beautiful garden. Among a variety of plants were some large, pink hibiscus blooms. When I commented on them, she explained the “seasonality” of her flowers.  She had planned the garden so that she had colorful blooms in every season.  When her spring flowers were no longer in bloom, then summer flowers took over.  After they had reached their prime and were through their cycle, autumn flowers would appear.  That way the garden was always in bloom, and she was enjoying color year round (except of course in winter, but I imagine indoor plants or bright red poinsettias in her home at the holidays!).  It made me think of the seasons God has planned for us—for our lives.  We can enjoy each season if we stop and “smell the roses.”  Our carefree childhood gives way to young adulthood; then perhaps the responsibility of marriage and children; followed by mature adults and/or grandparents; and a sweet, fulfilling final season of our lives.  I also realized that if we rush through each season, we cannot feel the great joy that God intends for us. I only wish I had known that earlier.  Maybe this was His plan all along.  When we look back at the past now, we should view it with no regrets, remembering the “flowers” we enjoyed and looking forward to our next season.

See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come.

Song of Songs 2:11-12

Betsy Hall