A Peony Lesson

 Every June I am impressed with this peony plant...

She always looks so robust and vivacious.

I am reminded that she began as a gardening experiment.

Her mother, a peony plant up by our front gate, came with the house and provided many years of color and delight.

One summer Micah decided to transplant a tiny chunk he dug out of her. 

Into this spot she went, a teeny tiny thing... delicate and a little wilted but we thought, "Let's see what happens."

We had never tried splitting peonies before.

We didn't know what a success that would be.

She is now larger, heartier, and more enthusiastic than the mother plant!

This morning I noticed the mother plant through the front window. She looks small and shy, and hasn't even opened up one bloom yet. The thought occurred to me, But how proud she must be. Look at all her baby has accomplished!

That's when the Lord reminded me of a prayer I've prayed over my children since they were babies.

I have prayed that the Lord will allow my children to be wiser and more successful than I could ever be...

That they will go further in their service to Him and deeper in their relationship with Him than I ever could...

That they will be, "established in the Lord before me." (Psalm 102:28)

You know, my father has a knack for creating spiritual lessons from any random backyard landscape.

We joke about it in our family.

When my brother and I were kids he called us outside to look at a pine tree that had a vine growing up one side of it.

He explained that even though the vine looked harmless and even quite cute, it was actually a killer weed that, if left alone, would eventually choke the life out of the pine tree.

He told us that's exactly what sin will do in our lives.

Any seemingly harmless, unrepented sin, has the potential to, "kill, steal, and destroy." (John 10:10)

Of course, I just had to drag all the kids out to the yard for my peony lesson today. 

I filled them in on what I've been praying over them all their lives.

"Just look at how this peony plant is thriving!" I said to them. "Would you ever think she came from that plant over there, and started as just a little transplant no taller than my hand? That's what I want for you."

And what I want for myself?...

Well, in ten or twenty years I hope someone might look at me and think, How proud she must be. Look at all her babies have accomplished!

Yes, a proud mother plant I will be.

John Mayer is right, "There is so much sacred in the month of June."

🌸🌸🌸

~ Courtney