Are You Blooming Where You Are? Post #54

Bloom where you are, even when you’re not planted there.

My dear friend Mary recently texted me photos of little petunias in her yard that were popping up everywhere, blooming. In the gravel by the sidewalk, in all kinds of nooks and crannies. Bloom where you’re planted, she said. Let’s take the saying one step farther….Are you blooming where you are, even if you weren’t actually planted there?

You may be currently in circumstances you didn’t cause and you didn’t plan. What is your attitude? Are you complaining or content? Are you encouraging others or the ring leader for grumbling?

The story of Moses and the Israelites comes to mind. Just a few weeks after the Lord miraculously parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to walk across on dry land and drowning the Eqyptians, the Israelites began grumbling to Moses.

“In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.'” –Exodus 16:2-4 NIV84 

Despite their complaining, God continued to provide for them, as He does for us. Grumbling and complaining sure does slow the journey, as well as zap the energy and fun. The adventure through the wilderness to the Promised Land that should have taken about 11 days took 40 years.

Please be encouraged that our attitude is our choice. Make the choice to bloom large right where you are.  

Reflect:

–How is your attitude? Positive or negative? Complaining or content? Please comment.

–What will you do to change your attitude or sustain it if it’s positive?

Renew:

–“…For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” –Philippians 4:11b-13 NIV84.

Recharge:

–Compliment and encourage three new people today.

–Write a handwritten note and mail it to someone who you used to complain about or to. Let them know how much you appreciate him/her.