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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

happy plants

Sunflowers are my favorite flower. I'd love to tell you I picked it as my favorite because of some deep spiritual and thoughtful application, but truthfully, I always loved how happy it looks. They are always seen with a vibrant blue sky in the background. I have sweet memories of "working" in my family's sunflower garden that was in my backyard in Mississippi. I was probably 4 years old wearing overall shorts, mud on my face and mud covering my little bare feet, hot Mississippi sun beating down. My Papaw called me over and knelt down showing me the seed. He let me plant it in the ground, and I was amazed at how quickly it grew. and grew. and grew. Soon my brother and sister and I were running under the shade of the giant sunflowers. I'm sure they weren't as tall as I remember them, but in my mind they were towering over me. I felt like I was in "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." I still go back to those days whenever I see those bright yellow leaves and big black faces. Recently however, I've gained an entirely new appreciation for sunflowers. Most people know what I'm about to write, so don't get your hopes up too high. I suppose I knew it, but it never clicked I guess. Did you know sunflowers always turn to face the sun? Someone mentioned that to me in the breakfast line at camp the other day. As I let it roll around in my head for a little while, I realized that that makes perfect sense. Wouldn't you be happy if you kept your focus on your source of life? No wonder sunflowers are the happiest plant out there. I think you can see where I'm going here for the spiritual application. If only we kept our focus and our faces fixed on the Son. He is our life-giver and source of peace. Isaiah 26:3 puts it, "You keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you."

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