God Smiles: Flowers As His Parables

Parables as flowers, some of you may be asking? Well, parables were some of Jesus’ most effective approaches to very earthy people, inviting them into the beauty of living in God’s Kingdom. After all, Jesus did say in Luke 12:27; “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” God created the earth resplendent with beauty as a testimony to His Glory. The variety in His Creation boggles the mind. Adam and Eve had the unique privilege of living in fellowship with Him in the perfect, the original garden. I have put in my share of hours among flowers both here and in Nigeria, and though the labor is intense at times, I confess the testimony each unique blossom speaks to my soul, blesses me again and again.

I praise God that He writes His Grace and His Mercy on a wide variety of tablets. There are the heavens. There are the mountains. There are the oceans. There are the trees. There are His animals. There are His creatures in the seas. There are, above all, His own children, His children who seek His face in Jesus.

And while there is a great consistency in all He has made as He focuses our hearts, our minds—indeed, our deepest souls on His saving grace in Jesus our Savior; He amazes each of us individually in those voices which sing to us most clearly His Gospel message so that we will turn to Him in faith. For me flowers have become parables of His perfect and creative and persistent love. I can only rejoice and praise His Name.

I will borrow a line from “The Chosen,” that powerful depiction of Jesus and those He chose to follow Him on this earth; “It would have been enough.” Just before HIs arrest and trials and crucifixion began, His followers repeated particular examples of how He had intervened in each of their lives as He called them to Himself, after repeating this phrase, “It would have been enough.” Well, I would humbly add, there is so much of His glory, His splendor, His redemptive design, and beauty in every single flower, just one among the thousands He has created would have been enough; but allow me to share some of my favorites which speak so powerfully His Love for me.

A Regal Rose

God’s glory in all His perfection
declares His splendor, His grace, His delight
in all His Creation
precise, His regal rose
telling His Story,
each petal so soft,
so appealing—
so much like His mercy.

An Easter Lily

Consider the purest of whites,
the golden, the green,
displayed as His Testimony
declaring His victory
even at the end
of His darkest of stories—
yet His Love rises
victorious.

A Delightful Dahlia

See, the purple, the pink, then the white
seem somehow flowing
secure yet so free
in the breeze
just to be as beautiful
as she can be
worshiping
her perfect Creator.

Tiger Lilies

Bright as they can be
rejoicing in His Glory
who colors for all to see
their particular delight—
reflecting His passion,
His creative power
on display
His majesty proclaiming.

Just A Zinnia You Say?

You might dismiss this
common flower
seeming  just like
one more flower to see—
and yet examine
her divine design
in a trinity of shapes
and colors profound.

These Dependable Daffodils

No matter the length of this winter
nor the frost hardening the ground
these dependable daffodils
rise up and brave the cold—
to defy dreariness
shouting their first hallelujahs
recalling
His resurrection once again.

Even One Sunflower

Even one sunflower
lifting up his crown
so beautiful
a testimony
to our great God
glorious in Heaven
should be enough
for my seeking heart.

“God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone,
but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars.”
 Martin Luther