Our backyard has transformed beautifully in the last 3 ½ years. When Dave and I first bought this house our backyard was bare desert. There was one tiny mesquite twig, 2 golden barrel cacti and an ocotillo. We had a tiny little patio and that was about it. Now it is an extension of our indoor living with a large patio, eating spaces, television, bar, conversation areas, fire pit, hot tub, vegetable and flower garden on one side and a cactus garden on the other. I think the flowers that I enjoy the most are the two hibiscus bushes on either side of the hot tub. I love when they bloom!
If you’ve ever take the time to watch a hibiscus go from bud to full bloom you will notice that they twirl their way open. The bud seems to rotate from left to right unfolding its petals finally exxposing its beautiful center.
Now where am I going with this. I knew you would be asking.
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.
8 Love will never end.” I Corinthians 13:4-8
When we first begin our life with Christ we are like that barren plot of garden that was my backyard. But God’s love begins to change us. We begin to unfold and with that unfolding our real beauty can be seen. We are transformed – our petals unfurl and when our bloom is fully opened our center, who is Jesus, can be seen.
Each petal is unique and brings its own character and beauty; patience, kindness, humility, selflessness, clear headed, forgiveness, joy, endurance, perseverance, trust, hope, faithfulness.
But like the petals of the hibiscus, we are only an outward expression of what the center has created. When God places his love in our hearts we are transformed.
“…All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.
6 Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.” Romans 5:4-8 CEV
Since God is willing to fill our hearts with his love then we should be willing to share that love with others so that they can see who is truly at the center of our lives.
Yes, I’m thankful today for the beauty I see in the blooms of my hibiscus!