Lessons from a flower

2012—365 days coming to do, to work, to plan, to live, but praise the Lord I only have to be concerned with today, now. I only need to be aware of where my focus is now.

 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."     Matthew 6:34  

A first time flower in the 2011 garden was an hibiscus that taught much:

—it must be watered EVERY day

—needs to be fed often

—the blooms only last one day

—aphids drink the life out of green and blooms

—the flower is stunningly beautiful

—it speaks: "Take my picture!" 100's of times 

—the flower is used in teas to add color and flavor Red Zinger Tea

And so I brought the hibiscus in when frost came and wonder of wonders, it has continued to bloom—one flower a day as long as it is fed, watered and "de-bugged," and it continues to speak so more pictures.

AND the flowers are beautiful:

 "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin." Matthew 6:27-28

Funny how certain moments in the past are vividly remembered.

Over 30 years ago Sharon (my dear friend) and I sat in the kitchen (yellow sunniness) talking about the hard life changes since Larry's head injury.  She understood a lot—being a neurological nurse in Chicago while her husband went through seminary.  She had seen the worst and the bad and the better.  She knew life would never be the same for us but she knew God—and He knows us.

So what I heard her say was, "Darnly, you only have to get through today.  Larry will get better, he really will.  In 10 or 20 years or even 30, you will know how much better, but now all you have to be concerned with is today."

And so today......approaching yet another year—2012,  I still only need to live in the now.  There are plans for the Week, the Month, and a few for the Year but they are always followed by "...if the Lord wills, we will......"  

You see, I won't get it all done.....the lists......the to do's......it won't be perfect or even pretty at times. I will fall short of expectations (mine and others).

but IF my eyes are looking

      If my ears are listening

      If my heart is willing

      If my hands are open

             THEN

      My mouth will move to "Thank YOU!"

      My feet will walk toward "I will"

      My hands will be lifted in praise

      My heart will be open to HIS WORD

and I will be full, WATERED and FED

and there will be a blooming every day for Him to see in His garden,

maybe more than one.

               

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Matthew 6:26

 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

Happy New Year!!!!!! (one day at a time)