Life In Dirt

The quote I pulled today from my therapy box was, "a beautiful flower begins its life in the dirt."

I really liked it, so that is going to be the reflection of my post today.

I think in our darkest, dreariest, lowest, crummiest, most awful times, God is really at work. It may seem like we are stuck in the dirt, but, God is nourishing us. God is providing. God is giving strength. God is giving us what we need, not necessarily what we want.

The dirt provides all sorts of nourishment, vitamins, etc. that plants need to successfully grow and sprout up.

Though it might seem like an eternity, the seed's life in the dirt is brief. It isn't long before it sprouts up a bit, and a small green sprout peeks above the dirt.

And with sunlight, water, nourishment, and care, the seed becomes a beautiful flower.

But, the roots of that flower still lie in the dirt. That's where it is anchored. It still receives nourishment from the dirt.

I think our lives in suffering are a lot like that- though we eventually "come out of the dirt", part of us will never forget what life was like there. For those with chronic illnesses, it may haunt them for the rest of their lives (like me).

But the roots aren't what matter- though they're in the dirt, the beautiful part is up above the earth.

As we emerge from the dirt we sometimes get stuck in, we are called to spread God's glory. He is revealed through us. We are bright "bucket fillers" (see previous post).

If it wasn't for the dirt, you wouldn't have a beautiful flower.

If it wasn't for the dirt, there wouldn't be much to anchor your faith in.

Thank God for the "dirt" in our lives. Thank God for bringing us out of the dirt to reveal His glory.