The Humble Tulip 

This week I have been thinking about a powerful life lesson gained from the fragile and beautiful tulips on our kitchen table and verses from the Bible that offer us encouragement and advice – to help us grow to be to be strong and determined, just like the tulips!

Recently I didn't have enough water in the jug of tulips and woke one morning to a dozen droopy sad looking heads. However we added water to the jug and within minutes the flowers come alive again – all at varying times and varying degrees too.

They are moving into a new phase in their jug journey today – growing towards the light in their own time, individually. It made me think about their growth process and how some flowers change and grow at a different pace; they are as individual as we are. Our attributes and the choices in life make a huge difference in how circumstances affect us in the long run.

Romans 12 verse 2 teaches us:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We can choose to grow in resilience or not, just as the tulips show. Here in Canada the deer love to chew the heads of the tulips – some survive. A tulip story begins in autumn and just like them we take time to grow and develop in the seasons of our life.

Philippians chapter 4 verse 13 tells us:

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

If tulips are planted outside, beautiful spring gardens take planning and effort to achieve just like our journey through life. Beauty can come from the harshest conditions. Patience and hope are rewarded with breath taking blooms; they demonstrate the promise of renewal too.

When we are broken is our beauty revealed in our character – something to stop and ponder. Do we give up, or persist to bloom? Ponder again.

If we have been hurt do we appreciate the beauty that remains and do we allow it to regrow in our life? So much to ponder!

Do we find something to thank God for when we are having a setback? Do we show kindness to others even when we are hurting? Resilience, as I have learned in life is a choice – do we give up or raise ourselves up?

James chapter 1 verses 2-4 teaches us of perseverance through trials :

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

When life becomes hard, take a deep breath and choose joy, like we do when we see flowers blooming, trees budding or the sunset and sunrise. Stand still, and as you take that deep breath notice the beauty all around you. As you do this, think about how you feel inside.

Everyone experiences hardship and grief in life and not always in the same way. As individuals we are different and therefore our experiences vary. Lets all learn something from the humble tulip.

Isaiah 41 verse 10 offers encouragement to all -

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.