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July 25, 2021 8:00 pm
I wasn’t truthful about the tulips. A gift from my younger daughter, the packaged bulbs traveled home with her to the US from Amsterdam after she visited there. So I made a show of accepting the bulbs with great excitement, as excited as I was to reunite with her. But tulips are my least favorite flower. Many bloom early and fade fast. The July weather, meantime, made it too hot to plant them.
Finally, however, in late September, I planted “my daughter’s” bulbs—thinking of her and thus planting them with love. With each turn of the rocky soil, my concern for the bulbs grew. Giving their plant bed a final pat, I offered the bulbs a blessing, “sleep well,” hoping to see blooming tulips in the spring.
My little project became a humble reminder of God’s call for us to love one another, even if we’re not each other’s “favorites.” Looking past each other’s faulty “weeds,” we’re enabled by God to extend love to others, even in temperamental seasons. Then, over time, mutual love blooms in spite of ourselves. “By this,” Jesus said, “everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (v. 34). Pruned by Him, we’re blessed then to bloom, as my tulips did the next spring—on the same weekend my daughter arrived for a short visit. “Look what’s blooming!” I said. Finally, me.
Thanks for joining us for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread are reading titled blooming for Jesus was written by Patricia Raven. I wasn't truthful about the tulips, a gift from my younger daughter. The packaged bulbs traveled home with her to the US from Amsterdam after she visited there. So I made a show of accepting the balls with great excitement as excited as I was to reunite with her but tulips are my least favorite flower miniboom early and fade fast. The July weather.
Meantime made it too hot to plant them. Finally, however, in late September I planted my daughters bulbs thinking of her and thus planting them with love. With each turn of the rocky soil. My concern for the bulbs grew giving their plant bed. A final pat, I offered the bulbs a blessing. Sleep well. Hoping to see blooming tulips in the spring. My little project became a humble reminder of God's call for us to love one another, even if were not each other's favorites looking past each other's faulty weeds were enabled by God to extend love to others, even in temperamental seasons. Then over time mutual love blooms in spite of ourselves by this Jesus said in John 13 everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another, pruned by him were blessed into blue as my tulips did the next spring on the same weekend my daughter arrived for a short visit. What's blooming. I said finally. Me today's Our Daily Bread devotional Scripture reading is from John chapter 13 verses 31 through 35 when he was gone. Jesus said now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him is God is glorified in him, God will glorify the son in himself and will glorify him at once my children. I will be with you, only a little longer. You will look for me and just as I told the Jews so I tell you now where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another.
By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Let's pray our loving heavenly father, thank you. As we look back on our lives, how you continue to mold and shape us to be more like you. We give you praise.
We think back to the people we were before we followed you. We may shudder in embarrassment or shame, may we find that each day each month. Each year the flowers we become are more and more beautiful, less prickly, less weedy and much more radiant.
As we reflect the image of Christ. It's in your name Jesus that we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread ministries
