Son Light

"Oh, look how beautiful!" I exclaimed.  We were in the garden department at Lowe's and had come upon a shipment of gorgeous, maroon-red coleus.  The large leaves waved majestically in the breeze of the open-air space.  "Let's get some!" I suggested to my husband.  He agreed and we put a couple of pots in our cart.

I had second thoughts, though, as I read the care instructions on the plastic plant marker sticking out of the pot.  Shade only, it said, no sun. I knew they were a shade plant, but the only place I had for flowers was sunny.  If I placed them near a tree in the back yard, they would be too far away for me to enjoy.  Reluctantly, we put them back.

Howard was almost to the car, but I lingered over plants displayed outside the store.  Some pretty zinnias in bright colors caught my eye.  I've always loved zinnias, ever since my mother grew them around her vegetable gardens. These were reasonably priced, too, in six-packs for less than $2.00.  I took all four packs, calling to my husband that I had found something.

I knew they would be about $8.00, and I had a ten in my purse.  I was surprised when the clerk handed me my change, which was something like $7.79!  Puzzled, I glanced at the receipt, when the cashier said, "These were marked down."  They were only 50 cents each!  I got the lot of them for $2.00! Thank you, Lord!

We put the flowers in planters when we got home, and I was pleased to read on their tags, Sun at least six hours a day.  Then, Little water after established.  This was my kind of flower!  They should do well on the front patio.

In our Bible studies, emphasis has been put on the fact that to grow in the Lord, we need to spend time reading His word and spending time with Him.  Just as the zinnias need full sun for several hours a day to grow, we need the sunlight of His presence to grow!  It might be easier to sit contented in the shade, like the coleus. But just as they would be too far away for me to enjoy, in neglecting our time with Him we might find ourselves distanced from the joy of a close relationship with the Son!

Unlike the zinnias, though, we still need plenty of the water of the Word even when we are well-established believers.  May we tend the garden of our heart as carefully as we tend our flowers!