Tuesday, June 05, 2018

Bloom Bravely


Spring and summer hail storms are a destructive visitor to Colorado gardeners. My Mom has had a couple of these already this Spring and just after planting some new Mother's Day flowers - sad!

A barrel next to the clothesline had a beautiful pink geranium in it which now looks pulverized. But one day, we looked out just a few days after hail and saw this bloom standing tall and brave.


In spite of the battering, it survived and emerged as beauty among the damage. There's a lesson in that!

I looked up the references to bravery and blooming in the Bible. Here are a few things I learned.

But first, the definition of brave: ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage. Then I looked up the definition of courage: the ability to do something that frightens one.

Then I looked up references to brave and noted the main idea or how it is used in that passage:

1 Samuel 14:52: brave men brought to serve King Saul
1 Samuel 16:18: David is known as a brave man and warrior
1 Samuel 18:17: Saul requests David serve him bravely
2 Samuel 2:7: be strong and brave
2 Samuel 10:12: be strong and fight bravely
2 Samuel 13:28: be strong and brave
2 Samuel 17:10: even brave soldiers can know fear because of the bravery and fight of their opposition
1 Chronicles 5:24: names listed were brave warriors, famous men and heads of their families
1 Chronicles 7:40: descendants of Asher: heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders
1 Chronicles 8:40: brave warriors
1 Chronicles 12:8: brave warriors
1 Chronicles 12:21: brave warriors
1 Chronicles 12:28: a brave young warrior
1 Chronicles 12:30: brave warriors
2 Chronicles 14:8: brave fighting men


What do I learn about bravery? It is frequently mentioned with strength - it takes will, determination and fortitude. It is frequently mentioned with warrior - someone who is ready and willing to fight, defend, come up against an enemy, face hard things and even physical danger; battle.

As I think of this geranium, it reminds me that I may have to fight to be true to who God made me to be; outer circumstances may try to deter - but this is where bravery comes in.

There is beauty within that will bloom in spite of outside factors and perhaps made all the more beautiful because of outside things.


Next, I looked up Isaiah 35:1-4 which mentions the word bloom. I tried to compare brave with the opposite of brave. I had to think what would the opposite of brave even be: weak, unadventurous, fearful, afraid, frightened, cautious, timid and cowardly - these words came up when I looked up antonyms of brave.

Reading through the Isaiah passage, here is a list of things that describe both bravery and the opposite of it.


Opposite of brave
Brave
Desert, parched
Glad
Wilderness
Rejoice, blossom
Bloom, rejoice
Shout for joy
Glory/splendor
Feeble hands
Strengthen
Knees that give way
Steady
Fearful heart
“Be strong … your God will come … He will come to save”


Which side are you living on? Why? How do the words on the right build up? Inspire? Encourage?

When you think of bravely blooming, who comes to mind? How can you encourage or build up this person?

What is budding inside of you waiting to bloom?

Look around for brave blooms!

4 comments:

Mom said...

Love this spiritual lesson inspired by my battered geranium! I'll think of it all summer as I enjoy watching the plant rebound from damaging hail. :)

Mrs. Chrissy T said...

Monica such a great bit of inspiration. Thanks.

Jackie said...

Monica, such insight. I enjoyed reading and thinking about every word of this post. You have given me much to think about today.

Yesterday's book: I did not want to comment on it yesterday since I was the privileged one to receive the journal recently. So, waited until today. I too came up with the same opinions of this book. I had checked it out at the library and simply could not get into it. No fret. I am sure there are many who would like it, just m=not myself.

Enjoy your day.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful spiritual lesson, Monica Dear. You amaze me!!
Love you, Grandma