Photo: Martha G. Brady

the seeds go in the ground

soon stems and leaves come up as they are watered.

one day we look and see the first bud.

it is exciting when the first flower blooms

but the real beauty comes

when the plant is full of blooms!

how does this translate to people?

in order to bloom

most of us have to experience dark times.

solitary times when we are pushed to Jesus.

when we realize that we need more than our own resources.

we may need Him to intervene in circumstances

or something simple…like helping us to love someone

in ways that don’t come naturally to us.        STOP

whether the ways are big or seemingly small,

we can’t live without GOD’s intervention in our lives.

we need His touch of grace and mercy, love and truth.

we need His enablement to live the Christian life.

we can’t even do that on our own!

As we learn to live in dependence on Him

we will bloom

in ways we won’t even be aware of.

we will show forth His grace, mercy, love, and truth

to a world that needs Him.

we will bloom.

But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23