April 23, 2024
Pansies are my favorite flowers in the spring. My great-grandmother loved them, too. The bright colors with the black centers are the ones I love best. Because my beloved knows that, each spring he makes sure I have lots of them to plant in pots on the front and back porches. This year, he got me more than ever before. They are hardy in the cool weather and make me smile every time I see them.
But then the time comes for geraniums. And I love geraniums. They are my favorite summer flower. To fill my pots with geraniums, I had to take out the spring pansies. I hated that part.
Pulling up the still-in-bloom pansies, I was struck by the symbolism of it all. It was a living example of Ecclesiastes 3:1-2: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”
This time of planting and uprooting flowers reminded me that there are other seasons in life with friends, ministry, and even church members. As I dug in the dirt, I pondered friends from over the years. In my early 30s, I had dear friends who helped me learn to be a mother. We even sang in an ensemble together at church. We’re all spread out now, but those times and years together are as fresh in my mind if they had happened yesterday. When we do see each other, we jump in right where we left off. Seasons of friends changed and that’s OK. God brought new friends.
Ministries can also be uprooted. What seemed to thrive years ago might not be what works in 2023. We learned that during COVID. Using “because that’s the way we’ve always done it” as a reason no longer applies.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity and privilege to serve on mission trips, in dental clinics, in prison, and with children of all ages. Ministry partners have changed, too, with each one having lived out their “such a time as this.” Our jail team is a wonderful example of this truth. Beginning in 2006, each volunteer along the way has brought unique gifts to the table. Some have served many years, while some only a short time. God keeps raising up more helpers.
During COVID, we were completely locked out of the jail and we honestly thought the ministry had come to an end. We knew God could open up another avenue of ministry. Then He did the sweetest thing: He re-opened the door for us to go back in. Ministries change and that’s OK.
As I uprooted pansies and planted geraniums, it brought to mind church members who have gone to other churches. I have to tell myself that, too, is OK. My heart and head need to be about kingdom business and not just the church where I serve. I truly want each follower of Christ to thrive, grow deep roots in a local church, and gloriously bloom where they are planted. Just like my new geraniums.
I cleaned up my mess and ventured to the back porch where I would be planting begonias with double blooms. (We’ve never had double blooming begonias before.) I hadn’t realized the flower switch would end up being a lesson from Ecclesiastes. My heavenly Father is the sweetest. He teaches me the neatest things when I pay attention.
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Dawn Reed is a pastor's wife and newspaper columnist. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.
