RAINSTORM ON NORRIS

ONE AFTERNOON THIS PAST WEEK, WE HAD QUITE A RAINSTORM OUT HERE ON NORRIS ROAD.  IT DIDNT TAKE LONG FOR OUR ENTIRE BACK YARD TO LOOK LIKE A SOLID LAKE.  MY POOR FLOWER BED WAS DRENCHED.  EVERY SO OFTEN, I WOULD GO OUT THE BACK DOOR JUST TO LOOK AT MY ONCE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE FLOWERS.  SOME OF THE SMALLER ONES WERE COMPLETELY LAID OVER.  THE BLOOMS LOOKED WILTED AND HOPELESS.  EVERYONE ASSURED ME THAT THE FLOWERS WOULD INDEED MAKE IT THROUGH THIS STORM. 

I REALIZED THEN THAT THERE WAS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED YET AGAIN REGARDING MY FLOWER BED.  THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, THE MORE I REALIZED THAT IN GODS EYES, WE ARE MUCH LIKE THE YOUNG, TENDER FLOWERS THAT I HAVE PLANTED.  LIFE'S STORMS COME THROUGH AND FLATTEN US QUITE REGULARLY.  THE WINDS OF DAILY LIVING OFTEN THREATEN TO UPROOT US.  WE SOMETIMES FEEL WE MIGHT DROWN IN OUR OWN SORROW. 

......BUT......

WE HAVE A GOD WHO LOVES US AND PROTECTS US, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF STORM WE ARE FACING.  THROUGH FAITH WE REMAIN GROUNDED.  THROUGH PRAYER, WE THRIVE.  THROUGH HIS LOVE, WE SHINE.  WHEN WE MAKE IT THROUGH ONE OF LIFES STORMS, OUR ROOTS ARE STRONGER, OUR COLORS ARE BRIGHTER AND WE APPEAR SO MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL IN HIS EYES.  MUCH LIKE MY FLOWER BED DOES TODAY.   MY "FLOWER BED" HAS TRULY BECOME MY "PRAYER GARDEN."

I AM SO GLAD MY SIMPLE LITTLE FLOWER BED CONTINUES TO TEACH ME SO MUCH ABOUT MY WALK WITH GOD.  FROM PULLING WEEDS TO BATTLING LIFES STORMS, HE HAS BEEN GUIDING ME DAILY.  I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I HAVE BEEN LEARNING TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE AND DIRECTION OF THE LORD.  HE LOVES US SO MUCH AND SPEAKS TO US SOMETIMES THROUGH THE MOST UNLIKELY WAYS.  AND FOR THAT I AM SO THANKFUL.