But that's not the whole story. This mum is the perennial that has been blooming here every fall since I planted it after the Feast in 2008. It always blooms late. I always find myself wondering whether it's going to make it before it freezes. I suspect that I picked a poor place (read: not enough sun) for it to do well. But this year, this mum had more than its share of adversity. It came up faithfully in the spring, but was promptly eaten off by some rabbits. I think they munched on it off and on until the middle of the summer when the heat almost overcame it. Then, in the fall, still struggling to get more than a couple of inches from the soil surface, the rabbits found it again. Even when we left for the Feast, I figured I just wasn't going to see any flowers this year. Imagine my surprise and delight when we returned from Colorado at the end of October to see this mum valiantly growing and budding!! Two weeks ago, when we had our first freeze, it still had not opened, and I figured that was it. What fun to walk out last week and see this tiny, persevering mum blooming with all its might!!
I've been thinking a lot about Casting Crown's song "Thrive" lately. I like the idea that "we were made for so much more than ordinary lives. It's time for us to more than just survive; we were made to thrive."
Much like my mum, so many people are struggling with difficult situations. I am concerned for them, and I grieve for the heartache and trouble. And yet, I rejoice when they lift their eyes to the Son and gain strength from Him to persevere. They don't just mark time, sitting on their hands, waiting with a "this too shall pass" attitude. They serve God with joy and gladness - an incredibly powerful witness that regardless of the obstacles and trials, they are going to praise the God who made them. They do more than just survive; they thrive.
I was glad to see the mum - to see its witness to me. Sometimes I give in to despair too quickly. I'm ready to take to my bed, pull the covers over my head and just cry. But that's not what God has called me to do. I remember a youth leader telling our youth group that when we have a bad day, when things look dark, when we don't know how we're going to do everything that needs to be done, to praise God anyway. My God is sovereign and He holds me in the palm of His hand. There is nothing that happens to me of which He is not aware, and He has my best interest at heart. I can trust Him with my life. As Paul said in 2 Corin. 4:17 "these light and momentary troubles are achieving for us a glory that far outweighs them all." I must take heart and face whatever God puts in my path, relying on His strength to see me through. I must do more than just survive. I must thrive - like my mum - where God has planted me.