“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us” - Romans 12:6
My next door neighbor blessed me recently by showing up at my front door with a bag of chocolates and a beautiful bouquet of yellow tulips. It was her way of letting me know that she was thinking of me and that she cared. Now I’m not sure if she had received the memo that mentioned candy and flowers are the way to my heart but let me tell you, if I didn’t already consider my neighbor a dear friend, I would have definitely pushed her to the top of the list after that.
With tulip meaning perfect love, and the color yellow representing friendship, the exquisite bouquet imparted a sense of grace and elegance in my otherwise average kitchen.
I admired the well shaped, full blooming flowers (while eating chocolate) with great contentment for sometime before settling in for the evening. In the morning, as the sun came up and I slowly made my way to the coffee pot, I looked over at my bouquet of tulips expecting to see each of the twelve standing at full attention, waiting to greet me with their beauty. Instead, to my surprise, eleven of the twelve tulips had already begun their slow decent. Of course they were still absolutely beautiful but only one tulip had its bulb high above the rest.
Normally I wouldn’t have thought too much about it but because the flowers were such an unexpected blessing, I found the slightly wilting eleven weighing on my mind. Instead of diving into a strong cup of coffee, which is a must-do part of my morning routine, I studied the tulips for awhile. I observed the eleven that were leaning and the one that stood erect with extreme curiosity. Finally, almost subconsciously, I blurted out loud “So why did eleven of my flowers have to start wilting so soon God?”
I really wish that every time I blurted out question to God like that, He would give me quick revelation answers but it usually doesn’t always work that way. Fortunately, this time it did. In an instant God revealed to me that the eleven tulips were just as valuable as the on and that each tulip individually and as a whole were serving their purpose--blessing me with their beauty.
Just because one tulip stood higher for longer than the rest, didn’t mean it was more valuable than the others or that just because eleven tulips began to bend sooner than I expected didn‘t mean that the way it made me feel when I was given them changed any. I was completely and totally blessed by the tulips (and the chocolates). Each of the perfect love tulips had it’s own unique God-like purpose and was willing fulfilling them whether standing straight or not.
Hmm? So if each of the twelve tulips have a purpose and fulfill it well by accepting what you call them to do without being concerned of size, time, or status of the assignment, - then we as Christians we should do the same? We should simply be obedient in big or small things? Is that what you’re trying to show me God?
Exactly!
God wanted to show me something more than just the beauty of the flowers, He wanted to remind me (and also you) that God has many good things He wants us to do as part of His Kingdome work.
Perhaps it’s something as simple as giving up your regular, convenient parking spot for a co-worker so they can see what God-kindness is about; or perhaps it’s organizing and speaking at a conference with hundreds of people that he calls you to do either one, done with a heart of obedience for God is equally purposeful to God’s kingdom work here on earth.
Funny thing, I’m pretty sure my dozen tulips never once found themselves concerned with who would stand straight the longest, those graceful tulips were just willing to be used by God and fulfill their purpose of blessing the heart of the person who received them. And I’m sure glad that person was me. Ask God how you can fulfill your purpose for Him today then tomorrow again. If twelve tulips recognize their unique purpose, so can we.
My next door neighbor blessed me recently by showing up at my front door with a bag of chocolates and a beautiful bouquet of yellow tulips. It was her way of letting me know that she was thinking of me and that she cared. Now I’m not sure if she had received the memo that mentioned candy and flowers are the way to my heart but let me tell you, if I didn’t already consider my neighbor a dear friend, I would have definitely pushed her to the top of the list after that.
With tulip meaning perfect love, and the color yellow representing friendship, the exquisite bouquet imparted a sense of grace and elegance in my otherwise average kitchen.
I admired the well shaped, full blooming flowers (while eating chocolate) with great contentment for sometime before settling in for the evening. In the morning, as the sun came up and I slowly made my way to the coffee pot, I looked over at my bouquet of tulips expecting to see each of the twelve standing at full attention, waiting to greet me with their beauty. Instead, to my surprise, eleven of the twelve tulips had already begun their slow decent. Of course they were still absolutely beautiful but only one tulip had its bulb high above the rest.
Normally I wouldn’t have thought too much about it but because the flowers were such an unexpected blessing, I found the slightly wilting eleven weighing on my mind. Instead of diving into a strong cup of coffee, which is a must-do part of my morning routine, I studied the tulips for awhile. I observed the eleven that were leaning and the one that stood erect with extreme curiosity. Finally, almost subconsciously, I blurted out loud “So why did eleven of my flowers have to start wilting so soon God?”
I really wish that every time I blurted out question to God like that, He would give me quick revelation answers but it usually doesn’t always work that way. Fortunately, this time it did. In an instant God revealed to me that the eleven tulips were just as valuable as the on and that each tulip individually and as a whole were serving their purpose--blessing me with their beauty.
Just because one tulip stood higher for longer than the rest, didn’t mean it was more valuable than the others or that just because eleven tulips began to bend sooner than I expected didn‘t mean that the way it made me feel when I was given them changed any. I was completely and totally blessed by the tulips (and the chocolates). Each of the perfect love tulips had it’s own unique God-like purpose and was willing fulfilling them whether standing straight or not.
Hmm? So if each of the twelve tulips have a purpose and fulfill it well by accepting what you call them to do without being concerned of size, time, or status of the assignment, - then we as Christians we should do the same? We should simply be obedient in big or small things? Is that what you’re trying to show me God?
Exactly!
God wanted to show me something more than just the beauty of the flowers, He wanted to remind me (and also you) that God has many good things He wants us to do as part of His Kingdome work.
Perhaps it’s something as simple as giving up your regular, convenient parking spot for a co-worker so they can see what God-kindness is about; or perhaps it’s organizing and speaking at a conference with hundreds of people that he calls you to do either one, done with a heart of obedience for God is equally purposeful to God’s kingdom work here on earth.
Funny thing, I’m pretty sure my dozen tulips never once found themselves concerned with who would stand straight the longest, those graceful tulips were just willing to be used by God and fulfill their purpose of blessing the heart of the person who received them. And I’m sure glad that person was me. Ask God how you can fulfill your purpose for Him today then tomorrow again. If twelve tulips recognize their unique purpose, so can we.
