Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Am I a "Sonflower"?

You can tell I've had sunflowers on the brain lately!

This is my first year successfully growing sunflowers! I have been so very excited to watch them grow and now to see that some of them are taller than me! I am anxiously awaiting the blooms!

Meanwhile, I've been observing them. They are very amazing flower. They grow fast and tall - steady and straight reaching upwards towards the sun. Hmmm, do I live like that? Do I grow like that - straight and aimed directly at the Son?

I have been amazed by their stems - it doesn't seem like enough to support such a tall flower and a couple of them have been nibbled off at the very base of their stems, yet they continue to grow and reach for the sun! Do I grow like that? Straining toward the Son despite difficulties?

And, while some are standing tall, a few have flopped over. A few are tied together and reaching up towards the sun. Am I helping someone around me who is feeling like flopping over or who is being trampled? Does someone around me need supported to reach for the Son? Do I need this kind of support?

Lord, I am so very thankful that You allowed these flowers to succeed this year! I thank You for blessing my garden and for opening my eyes to lessons in the midst of it. I am grateful for the opportunity to observe sunflowers and consider my own heart and growth in light of the way they grow upwards - strong and true towards their life source. Please cultivate a beautiful bloom in and through my heart that glorifies You and enable me to continuously grow towards my source of life - YOU!

16 comments:

Cheryl said...

Monica,
Thank you so much for sharing your sunflowers and also using them to be able to share a "nugget" of God's word with us today.
I am always blessed by your posts and sometimes they are just the thing I need to lift me up for the day.
P.S. A big thank you to your hubby to be so sweet to post for you while your out of town. We all appreciate it.
Hugs

Happy Husband said...

Well, several of the flowers are taller than ME now. Oh, and just let ya'll know, Monica did all these posts before she departed. I am only publishing the comments. And I sure do miss my little flower :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your post and thinking of the sunflowers in a way I wouldn't have seen or noticed. I want to GROW to be more like HIM.

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said...

What a sweet husband you have, Monica! (I have a sweet one, too, so I should know!)

Thanks for sharing your "Sonflower" thoughts. So lovely, and so true!

Anonymous said...

Oh I do LOVE sunflowers! Thank you so much Monica for always challenging me to grow. And Happy Husband...you are so blessed! I bet you miss your little flower. Thanks for publishing :-)

Anna said...

Thanks for that image. We should be reaching toward God always.

laura said...

Thank you for such a beautiful post. I needed those words today. What a blessing.

Unknown said...

What a great post, Monica! I too enjoy sunflowers in my garden the past couple of years! Thanks for the neat perspective! :)

Blessings!

Jennie Shutt said...

Well a blessing those Sonflowers are a constant reminder of how we need to grow.

Elise said...

Wow, what a great post!! My aunt posted on her Facebook, the scripture about those who refresh will themselves be refreshed. I truly think you are a "refresher"!!
Elise

The Gaertegang Homestead said...

I love sunflowers myself...great post...good things to consider as we each seek to grow in the Lord!

Debra said...

Wonderful post! And all so true.
Your sunflowers are beautiful. Thanks!

LynnMarie said...

What a blessing this post was. I forget to grow tall and reach for the Son at times. Thanks for reminding me.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful meditation for today. I love the image of reaching for the Son. Blessings.
QMM

Ginger said...

What a great metaphor!

Me said...

Monica,

You just always amaze me at much you love the Lord above all else and how hard to strive to do what is right. What a blessing you are!