surprised by beauty

In retrospect, I over reacted.
I stood there, in the middle of our brown yard, telling Brad what happened, tears burning hot little paths down my face.
Leaning on his rake, he listened patiently.
He was so kind.
He kept reassuring me it would be ok--that we'd find a way to solve the problem--that it wasn't as hopeless as it seemed.
Still crying, but beginning to believe his words, I caught a glimpse of purple out of the corner of my eye.
I ignored it at first because I didn't plant any flowers in that bed, so it must be something else.
When finally composed, I went over to investigate.
As I walked closer, Brad said "yeah, I saw that. One of the kids must have found one broken off and stuck it there."
But, no.
This was a lone rogue tulip, blooming in my perennial bed.
I came home from work, worried, sad and upset and there it was, in all it's purple splendor.
A surprise of beauty.
I didn't plant it.
I didn't prepare the soil or plan the spot.
I didn't water it or fertilize it.
I don't know how it got there.
A bird maybe?
Or a squirrel?
It doesn't matter.
It's there now.
Blooming.
A sole purple bloom amidst last falls yard debris.
A reminder of something more than me and something bigger than me.
Larger Life at work, even in my back yard.
A signal of hope.





Jesus said: That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:25-34 (New Living Translation)