We have been having so much rain the last two days. I cannot even go out to the backyard for fear of mosquito bites. My once-beautiful flowers are all looking scraggly. But I know as soon as cooler Autumn weather sets in, I will have more lovely blooms before winter comes.
As all of you know, I am just fascinated with flowers. They are one of the most beautiful things I think God created. Sometimes I think He created them just for me. They give me this happy feeling. When I see how simple but yet how fantastic flowers are, I can't help thinking that God is still in control and all is right with the world.
"And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Matthew 6:29
People have loved flowers back from the beginning of time and there are different meanings that have been associated with specific ones over the years. Many flowers have come to have several different meanings. We will take a look at just four of them to see what we can learn.
Aster - Contentment Asters are those pretty little dainty white flowers that have a yellow center. I think they look like wild daisies. We have them growing along the roads here in California where I live and I always think I'd like to just stop the car and get out and pick some to take home.
One of the meanings associated with the aster flower is contentment. I kind of like that. They are simple yet pretty flowers and they do give me that sense of contentment. Those words in Philippians come to mind.
"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content". Philippians 4:11
Contentment sure is a nice place to be in our lives. Isn't it? No matter what the circumstances we have that ease of satisfaction. The problem I think that people have with contentment is that they get it confused with being complacent. Complacent means we don't care about things or are unconcerned, but being content is not that. When we are content, we end up caring more because we don't allow things around us to get us off track. It's being able to push forward and have that peace no matter what the circumstances.
Camellia - Graciousness
I have a lot of favorite flowers and Camellias are right there towards the top of my list. I have a large Camellia bush beside my front porch. Right now they are in full bloom and are so breathtakingly beautiful. They make me smile every time I pass them.
The meaning associated with the camellia is graciousness. I think that's a word we don't hear used much anymore and we certainly don't see it displayed much. It means excellence of manners or social conduct. Shouldn't we as Christian women embody that? The world sure doesn't. You don't have to turn on the television for more than a few seconds and you'll see ads for those reality shows that have these type of women (if you can call them women) that are anything but gracious. It sickens my stomach at how proud they are of being hateful, mean, cruel, and distasteful in every sense of the word.
As Christian women, those definitely are not our role models. I think if we want to be in full bloom as Christian women we really need to concentrate on being gracious. I have known a few very gracious Christian women in my life and to me that makes them quite breathtakingly beautiful.
"A gracious woman retaineth honour..". Proverbs 11:16
Larkspur - Beautiful Spirit
The Larkspur is a pretty flower. I've mostly seen them in purple but they can be other colors as well. I have always wanted to plant these but they can be toxic to my dog Tiffany. They are one of the most beautiful flowers for any flower arrangement. One of the meanings associated with the Larkspur is a "beautiful spirit". Wow. That's something to strive for. I've always loved that verse in 1 Peter where it is talking about a "meek and quiet spirit". Now that is a "beautiful" spirit for a Christian lady.
"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Peter 3:4
One thing I read about the Larkspur is that some of them have become endangered and that you don't find as many anymore except for those grown specifically for flower arranging. Kind of like those "meek and quiet spirit" ladies. There doesn't seem to be an abundance of them either.
Black Eyed Susan - Encouragement
These are the most reliable flowers in my garden. I've always admired the Black Eyed Susan. They are so bright and striking that I think they normally contrast everything around them. If I need some cheering up - I go outside and spend time with my black-eyed-susans. They seem to smile all the time no matter what the weather. The meaning of the Black Eyed Susan is encouragement.
I sure love to be around encouraging people. Don't you? People that give you that special word you need just at that moment or are there to cheer you on in whatever you are doing at the time. Those bright people definitely contrast with those around them.
"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers". Ephesians 4:29
Conclusion:
I think there are things in our Christian lives that we have to have like pretty flowers all lined up in a row. Things like these four- contentment, graciousness, beautiful spirits, and encouragement. There are other things too all involved in our Christian living such as love, compassion, and all those other things Christ taught us. When we have these things in order, we have a tendency to live our Christian lives in a more beautiful way.
So, are your flowers all in a row?
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