Autumn Sunflowers
Life often teaches us in the most unexpected ways, and sometimes, it takes the simplest moments to reveal profound truths. Recently, I experienced a beautiful metaphor for resilience and grace. I want to share this lesson from a little seed I planted and then forgot.
A few months ago, I planted a few sunflower seeds. I nurtured it for a while, watering and tending to it with hope and excitement. But as time went on, I grew disheartened. The seed showed no signs of life, and eventually, my attention waned. I stopped watering it, convinced that it had failed. I gave up on it completely.
Imagine my surprise when I returned to the garden weeks later. There, midst the weeds and the remnants of my neglect, stood a stunning flower, vibrant and full of life. The colors were brilliant, and its presence was nothing short of miraculous. How could something I had abandoned flourish in my absence?
In that moment, I couldn’t help but reflect on how similar this is to our own lives and faith journeys. We often plant seeds of hope, love, and dreams. However, we sometimes see them wither due to doubt. Despair or the daily grind can also cause them to wither.
We find ourselves overwhelmed, wondering if anything we’ve nurtured will ever bloom. Just like my neglected seed, we feel like our efforts have gone unnoticed, forgotten in the chaos of life.
This experience with the flower taught me a powerful truth. Even when we give up, God is still at work. There are times we feel our prayers are unanswered. We believe our efforts are fruitless. But, like that seed, growth often occurs beneath the surface. It remains unseen and unfelt.
God’s timing is perfect, and His plans are often beyond our comprehension. My flower emerged when I least expected it. Similarly, we find that our moments of struggle and doubt can lead to unexpected beauty. Sometimes, what seems like an end is merely a pause, allowing God to work in ways we can’t imagine.
Autumn Sunflowers
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts
By Sandra J
19 Replies to “Autumn Sunflowers”
Amazing story, Sandra, and inspirational. I love it when real life lessons are learned through such real life occurrences. Of course, you had to draw this out and apply it in such a way that we can see it and learn from it. What you have done here is profound. Many thanks
You are so very welcome RJ, He teaches us in so many different ways, showing us how he is always right by our side, no matter what.
Amen
The flower and your thoughts are beautiful Sandra.
Yes, amazing how He teaches us these things through our everyday life experiences when we really look at what is happening.
Well said Sandra. Reminds us of the Parable of Growing Seed in Mark 4 – how God causes growth in our lives even when it seems nothing is happening. Because much of what is happening is within and unseen.
Very beautiful thoughts, Sandra… and sunflower!
Thank you very much 😊
This was a very educational read—thank you for posting.
A great, inspiring post to start the week. Thank you.
You are very welcome, thank you 😊
Beautiful flower – I also like the concept that one always finds a way when others might give up on them.
So true. 🙂
Those colors are beautiful! 🌞
I believe this is my new favorite sunflower Dave. I will be planting more next summer.
So gorgeous, Sandra. They are such tough flowers as well as beautiful. They can grow from a seed thrown out of a car.
Thank you Don, I really had forgotten about this flower. I planted it in clay type soil. The ground was so hard around it, I just quit watering it figuring it would not grow. One morning, there it was. Such a nice surprise.
🌻
✧❖◈❋✤♡ 𝒃 𝒆 𝒂 𝒖 𝒕 𝒊 𝒇 𝒖 𝒍 ♡✤❋◈❖✧
Thank you very much 😊