A perfect flower is almost…
I just watched a film. A middle-aged woman rejected being called “beautiful,” saying, “No, I’m not beautiful. I’m almost old.” The next day, her admirer told her he had meditated on her statement and realized “a perfect flower is almost old.”
When we see rosebuds and unopened gardenia buds, they show us a promise of beauty, but they cannot compare with the mature flowers that are almost old. My gardenias are making my home smell delicious right now. The slightly yellowed, already-old ones smell the best. They remind me of a promise God gave through His devoted follower, Paul. When he wrote his second letter to Corinthian believers, he said: God always leads us in His triumph, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
I love remembering that as long as we have a pulse, we have a purpose. God is able to use us and shine through us. He can do it when we don’t feel shiny, and even when we feel almost-old or already-old. He is able to show His beautiful love, mercy, and grace through His imperfect followers. Let’s ask him to remind us how He’s done it in the past. How do you want to do it, through us, today, Lord?
Without His love working within us, our lives won’t smell great. We won’t look beautiful, no matter how much we spend on cosmetics. But when we get filled up with Him, the unsurpassed power of His love can flow through. He will reveal the beautiful fragrance of Christ through us, regardless of age or blemishes.
This Day
Cathy Everitt
10/6/2021
What keeps me safe?
Cathy Everitt
6/22/2021
Jan
Cathy Everitt
6/17/2021
The Treasure
Cathy Everitt
2/23/2021
(Don’t) Follow Your Heart?
Cathy Everitt
2/11/2021
What’s that smell?
Cathy Everitt
1/27/2021
This Moment
Cathy Everitt
1/14/2021
Do your curls, girls!
Cathy Everitt
1/6/2021
Forgotten Holiday Promise
Cathy Everitt
12/10/2020
The Flea and the Cosmos
Cathy Everitt
11/19/2020
Who’s Driving Me?
Cathy Everitt
11/12/2020
Safe and Sound
Cathy Everitt
6/24/2020
Patience
Cathy Everitt
2/27/2020
Holiday Loneliness?
Cathy Everitt
12/30/2019
Haunted? What a Shame.
Cathy Everitt
10/30/2019
What Are We Celebrating?
Cathy Everitt
7/3/2019
Where’s The Remote?
Cathy Everitt
6/24/2019
Post-Hurricane Prayer
Cathy Everitt
1/17/2019
Does God Celebrate?
Cathy Everitt
12/12/2018
What For?
Cathy Everitt
10/5/2018
Birthright?
Cathy Everitt
9/1/2018
Exclamation Points
Cathy Everitt
8/20/2018
Shaking?
Cathy Everitt
7/26/2018
Radiance, Not Wrinkles
Cathy Everitt
11/21/2017
Walkin' and Talkin'
Cathy Everitt
9/22/2017
Touches
Cathy Everitt
9/8/2017
The Worry List
Cathy Everitt
7/17/2017
Unanswered prayer?
Cathy Everitt
5/21/2017
Who's Your First Love?
Cathy Everitt
4/9/2017
Worse Than Sickness
Cathy Everitt
12/6/2016
The Highest Price
Cathy Everitt
11/28/2016
No Perfect Christmas
Cathy Everitt
11/21/2016
Sacrificing Thanks
Cathy Everitt
11/14/2016
The Director
Cathy Everitt
11/7/2016
Watching Dead People
Cathy Everitt
10/31/2016
Against The Goad
Cathy Everitt
10/24/2016
Eating His Words
Cathy Everitt
10/17/2016
Glory
Cathy Everitt
10/9/2016
What Does The Future Hold?
Cathy Everitt
10/4/2016
More Sweetness
Cathy Everitt
9/27/2016
Delicious Cycle Revisited
Cathy Everitt
9/20/2016
A Delicious Cycle
Cathy Everitt
9/13/2016
Winning and Losing
Cathy Everitt
9/6/2016
When I lose, I win
Cathy Everitt
8/30/2016
Sunrise
Cathy Everitt
8/23/2016
Impressions of Amsterdam
Cathy Everitt
8/16/2016
Sing 'Til I'm Satisfied
Cathy Everitt
8/8/2016
Ever-Increasing
Cathy Everitt
7/26/2016
Corrie
Cathy Everitt
7/11/2016
Favorites?
Cathy Everitt
6/28/2016
I love reminders from these guys...
Cathy Everitt
6/14/2016
How Can I Help?
Cathy Everitt
6/7/2016
A Perfect Flower
Cathy Everitt
5/31/2016