Life's Bouquets

"He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." Ps. 126:5-6

I posted the picture of the beautiful pink flowers next to this blog to show the physical proof of this spiritual principle. When my sister, Beth was battling cancer I remember sitting next to her as she planted the seeds that produced this beautiful bouquet. I cannot begin to imagine what was racing through her mind as her small hands massaged the gentle soil. Maybe somewhere deep in her soul was the acceptance that no matter what we experience, life will continue in beauty and purpose…and that the work of our hands will bless others in the future. I hope her heart was anchored in peace that the beauty she had experienced on earth was but a mere foreshadowing of what was to come. Beth never got to see this beautiful bunch of flowers but the heavenly bouquet she must have been presented in Heaven must have been glorious.

The principle of sowing seed during our darkest hour is a Christian principle that I have seen personally work for the healing of broken hearts. In Griefshare, every Sunday night seeds of compassion and love are planted among the group. Our tears water the soil of our hearts and healing takes root. Just as bouquets are formed under ground with seeds first, the ground warms up, the gentle healing rains fall and the buds of healing peek out as if asking permission to open to experience new growth.

In our darkest trials we must go against our natural instincts to pull up anchor, retreat and recoil. We must brace with grace and plant seeds for a future harvest. Others are depending on us to show us the better way to go, the higher path of living and healing. Our joy will return to us through the reaching out to others. Life is meant to live forward which requires planting, watering, waiting and gathering.

I love this statement from a devotional that I read this morning. ‘Rather than sit back and allow self-pity and discouragement to consume us, we should plant seed during this time. Reach out to a person who needs a friend. Invest in the life of another. See where you can be a blessing to someone. Give of yourself. If you find yourself in a difficult place today, see where you can sow some seed. Soon you will be reaping songs of joy.’ Prime Time With God, Os Hillman.

Beth planted for the sake of future beauty without the guarantee of gathering. She lived life moving forward and we are the benefactors of the work of her hands. If we sow in the winter, we will produce for ourselves and others a beautiful bouquet like Beth’s.