The Flower
Marsha Deveaux Johnson
One day I heard a knock at my door. I leisurely went to the door because I was
not expecting anyone to visit. Upon opening the door I looked down and saw a
single flower placed in water in a soda bottle with beautifully opened
petals. A note was attached to it that
said, “This reminds me of you.”
This flower was placed there by my Neighbor who lives
beside me and is so helpful. As I
closely viewed the beautiful flower, I noticed that it had nine beautiful soft
petals. Closer viewing revealed to me
even more. I saw words upon the petals
that stirred thought. I wondered if the
words were the key to what reminded my Neighbor of me.
I saw the word “LOVE” and thought He sees love? And then I remembered the compassion that
constantly floods my human spirit when I minister God’s love to others.
I saw the word “JOY” and thought, He sees joy? I had just
lost a loved one. And then I remembered
the joy that took away the tears at the memorial service.
I saw the word “PEACE” and thought He sees peace? And then I remembered the tremendous peace
that I had when I learned that my life had to be interrupted with surgery and
recovery to alleviate nagging pain.
I saw the word “LONGSUFFERING” and said out loud Oh No!
And then I remembered painstakingly waiting with a friend at the emergency room
of the hospital so she could receive services.
The trauma, the children playing, the babies crying, you have not
suffered long until you have waited in the emergency room of a hospital.
I saw the word “GENTLENESS” and thought He sees
gentleness? And then I remembered as a
young child I had to learn how to give my grandmother diabetic injections way
back when they were not so refined. I learned
to be gentle and to hurt when others hurt.
I saw the word “MEEKNESS” and thought, He sees meekness
and humility in me? And then I
remembered a humble apology to my grandson Rohan about Parmesan cheese that
tasted funny to him. I insisted it was
alright until I tasted it.
I saw the word “GOODNESS” and thought He sees goodness
and kindness in me? And then I
remembered how I frequently allow people who are on their lunch break to get to
the checkout counter a little quicker. I
am retired and seize joy when I make someone’s day this way.
I saw the word “TEMPERANCE” and thought, He sees
temperance? Then I remembered how I listen
to others when they need a listening ear and push back my own challenges so
that they can have the earthly encouragement that they need.
I saw the word “FAITH” and thought He sees faith in me? I am constantly seeking God’s word so that my
faith may grow. Maybe He sees my seeking
and reaching and counts it for faith.
If someone placed a flower at your door or on your desk
and said, “This reminds me of you", what words would be written on the
petals?
Walk
In The Spirit
&
Bear Fruit.
Walking in the Spirit brings
the blessing of
the growth of fruit
in the life of a Believer. The works
of the flesh are (adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying,
murders, drunkenness, reveling)
The fruit of the Spirit should abound
in the life of every Believer. The
absence of the works of the flesh
promotes the growth of the
fruit of
the Spirit.
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance
(Galatians 5)
Marsha Deveaux Johnson
