Most of us remember the story of “The Little Train that Could.” The popular children’s book recounts the story about a little train with a small engine. No one thought that was powerful enough to help the other engines, but he ended up saving the day.
While many of us have been told that we can do or be anything that we put our minds to, most of us know that there are some limitations to our dreams. When I was a young child, I want to be a firefighter. Actually, we didn’t even have that word in our vocabulary. There were fireMEN but you never heard of woman being firefighters. While many woman have broken that glass ceiling, I seriously don’t think I could do the job. I’m not that strong and my aversion to getting burned grew as I got older!
But still, it’s inspiring to see someone go for an audacious goal. Even if they don’t reach it, it inspires me to see people’s courage.
Which brings me to my flower garden.
2014 Flowers
Flanking our walkway that leads into our front door, we’ve planted low bushes and add colorful annuals to it each year. I like flowers that don’t need too much care. I’ll plant and water them, but they have to be pretty hardy to survive the southern sun that beats down on that area for 12-14 hours a summer day.
Each year, several seedlings from a previous years flowers appear. I love leaving them where God planted them and having them join the array of colors that I have chosen for that year. This year Torenia that I planted for Ken’s birthday party last year showed up in quite a few places. Red Celosia that I planted probably 5 years ago came back too. What’s funny, is that they did not show up the previous four years! Where were those seeds hiding?
And then come the New Guinea Impatiens. I remember planting them back about 2004 or so when we returned from Indonesia. Year after year a few show up. The color has changed on them, but there they are.
This year, I had a determined flower on my hands. Not content to share the
Tenacious little flower
flower bed with the other flowers, this seedling sprouted several feet into our gravel driveway. I shook my head in wonder.
Since weeding the gravel driveway has mercifully fallen into my husband’s hands, I had to warn him that this green plant was a flower and that he should leave that one be.
“Let’s see how long it lasts”, I said.
Last week that crazy plant bloomed.
It wasn’t watered, loved or cared for, but somehow it made it through and now shows its glory.
I love that flower. Every time I walk into the house, I break into a smile and shake my head.
#refusetobeunseen
All around the world today, there are communities struggling. Some are racing for new lands, some are trying to hold out in their own country to see if the horror that is war will finally pass them by. Some wait for children who were kidnapped months ago and still there is no word on them. Some plan their day so that they only drive on the roads during the safe hours.
These communities are waiting. They are waiting and many are blooming while they wait. In spite of the tragedies in their lives, they continue to strive to serve God and do His work day after day.
Thank you for allowing us to stand with them in a very small way and help them with their task of translating God’s Words into the language that God created for them.
The Haugh Herald 