No Promises

No Promises

​The other day, I went out into my back yard and there, going up the step in the mix of some boring weeds, I saw the most brilliantly colored flower.  Nothing has ever grown there before and I wondered what it was doing there now!  It was so simple and beautiful and thought surely is was sent to grow there to give me a message.

So, I wondered what kind of message it could be?  Let me give you some back-story... I feel closest to God when I am out amongst nature.  I feel He is near me and I am more open to hearing his messages.  The breeze suddenly feels like a caress.  The birds sound like a choir.  The colors seem so intense that I feel like I disappear.  I don't feel this way every time I go outside, but I know that if I am troubled, that's where I meet Him.  And he will comfort me.  He will ease my pain.  He will scold me.  He will give me direction.  Not that He whispers to me or anything... I've asked repeatedly for Him to send me a text message, but He must not like that option for me... Any-hoo.... So I feel this random flower was "sent" to tell me something.

Maybe, to look for the rose among the thorns?  That would be the obvious choice.  And sometimes I do need to be reminded of that.  I can get pretty crabby some days and only see things that just irritate the tar out of me and only witness the annoying things about people, but sometimes, hidden underneath the perceived "annoying" there is something truly beautiful there just waiting to be noticed.  It was there all along.  I just needed an attitude adjustment to see it.

Or maybe, it was stop and smell the roses?  Again with the roses?  The point being that sometimes I get so busy and forget to notice the small things that make me happy.  The little things that remind me why I work so hard.  A sunset.  The smile from one of my kids or grandkids.  An ice-cream sandwich.  I am pretty busy...  I do work a lot and forget to watch the sun set...

How about, God has it under control?  He took the time to create this beautiful, perfectly made flower and bring it to my attention.  He's got the whole world in His hands.  My troubles are nothing compared to his power and compassion.  No problem is too big or too small to take to Him.

But no... none (or all) of those.  Because as I was working all day, the next chance I got to go outside and check on my pretty little surprise, it was gone.  Orange petals had fallen to the concrete and the center hung low.  My conclusion was that the lesson must be:  Nothing is promised.  You don't know how long you have to appreciate the things and the people around you.  Your world could change in an instant.  

Yes, that must be it.  The flower was here, and when I thought I could appreciate it another day, it was gone.  So I pass this lesson on to you.  Love those around you.  Never let them doubt for one minute that they are important to you.  Stop and smell the roses.  Enjoy the sunsets.  Kiss the babies.  Take nothing for granted.  The very breath you breathe is not promised.  Make sure you use every one as if it was your last.  Let no words of ill-will be said to those you love.  Always be the best person you can be from one minute to the next.  Life is short.  Too short.

Forgive.  Be thankful.  Be kind.  Show love.  You don't know what you've got till it's gone.  Don't live a life of regret.  Live every day to the fullest.  And even if your day consists of having to go to work, or another day of boring mundane activities, do your best to find the joy in every day.  There's a reason you are, where you are doing what you're doing.  So when you go to bed at night, before you drift off to sleep, take a moment to be thankful for all the good things in your life.  :)

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