As I took my morning walk, I saw an unusual plant growing along the ditch bank.
It was tall and unsightly with its sickly, grey, brown and black stem and leaves.
Upon closer inspection, I was surprised to find a few tiny yellow flowers beginning to bloom.
How remarkable to see something so beautiful emerge from something so unattractive.
This made me reflect on life and its many challenges-how easy it is to focus on the difficulties, the grays, browns, and blacks of our struggles.
Is it possible to find beauty in the very situation that brings us grief?
As I continued walking, I saw more of these tall plants, all with tiny yellow flowers starting to burst open.
If I had walked by in a hurry, I would have easily overlooked the flowers, dismissing the plant as nothing more than an ugly weed.
But instead I was given the chance to pause and consider the different situations in my life that might be seen as weeds-situations that are less than ideal.
If I took the time, could I find tiny flowers of beauty growing within these seemingly difficult circumstances?
Could I discover not just something good, but something truly beautiful?
The answer is a resounding yes!
When I actively seek out whatever good I can find, I feel my spirits life, and life becomes more hopeful and joyful.
I am reminded of Henry B. Eyring’s words about his daily practice of writing down the blessings and witnesses of God’s love in his life. He would ponder and write about this question:
‘Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?…As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done…. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers….”
Looking for and recognizing God’s hand in our life is like looking for and seeing those tiny yellow flowers growing from that unsightly plant.
And I have a choice.
I can view life’s challenges and problems as ugly weeds, or I can search for the beauty and blessings hidden within them.
Here’s to the tiny yellow flowers blooming in your life.
Much love,
