Flowers for You
One morning I looked out my bathroom window and saw a beautiful large red rose even with the window. This was amazing because the bathroom is located upstairs and that meant that the rose had a stem that was over 6 feet long.
I told Tracy about the rose and how it was larger than my hand and just amazing. I then proceed to get ready for the day. While in the shower my mind imagined Tracy cutting the rose and quietly placing it on the bathroom sink to surprise me when I came out of the shower. I would smile and giggle to myself just imagining the sweet gesture of love and was getting quite excited to see my surprise.
Surprise! The rose was not on the bathroom counter, but rather still attached to the stem outside. I was so disappointed and even a bit angry at Tracy for not fulfilling my romantic expectation.
As the morning progressed I thought about this more and Tracy was put deeper in the dog house for something he didn’t do. In my quiet time I told God all about it and He cleared the whole thing up with one statement. “I put the rose there for you so each day you could see it and be reminded that I love you.”
If the rose would have been cut down it would have lasted a few days and then been thrown away. But since it remained attached to it’s stem, it lasted the rest of the season. In fact it is still there! When I looked out my window this morning it was still in view and although the rose has become frozen, it will be visible all winter long.
My expectations were wrong. It was not right of me to place them on Tracy the way I did and especially to be upset when they weren’t fulfilled. I could have so much more peace in my life if I had realistic expectations and communicated them properly.
In the dictionary the definition of communicate is the imparting or exchange of information, ideas, or feelings, a connecting route, passage or link. The only thing I told Tracy was that that I thought the rose was amazing, not that I wanted it inside. I didn’t realize that deep down what I really wanted was a loving gesture and that’s exactly what I received.
In Romans 8:26-28 -(Passion Translation) it says, “
“at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.”
Isn’t that amazing! Even when I didn’t properly communicate my desires, God already knew them and had a plan in place. I was so touched by God’s love for me and the continuing reminder that God exceeds our expectations. He knows what we need and want better than we do.
Did you catch that statement in the bible verse, “So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives.” Are you convinced that God wants good for your life? That every detail is continually woven together?
It blows my mind just thinking about it. I don’t know how many years ago that rose bush was planted in that exact spot or how that particular stem grew higher than all the others, or how on that exact day it bloomed with such brilliant color and size and was visible from my window and how God knew at that exact moment I would be looking out with a deep down desire to feel loved. But God knows because He orchestrated every moment and detail. Why? Because He loves me and wants good for my life.
He wants me to be convinced of His love. Convinced means to believe. Do I believe that God loves me and has a plan for me? Yes I do! And He has flowers for me to remind me.
My prayer
Father, I thank you that You love me and show me Your love in so many unique and detailed ways. Help me to love others that same way and to have the right expectations of those in my life. Teach me to communicate better with You and others. Thank you for the people in my life and the blessings that they are. Amen
Where does my help come from?
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.