When my mom lost her battle with breast cancer, my office gifted me a beautiful bright pink orchid. I was in a busy season of life – a job change shortly after, a son graduating from high school and going off to college – so I didn’t have time to research how to care for an orchid. To my surprise, the flowers lasted for months. When the last petal finally fell off its stem, I continued to water it sporadically, if I remembered.
Despite my lack of care, the orchid bloomed again after the first year, although the flowers were fewer and did not last nearly as long. After that, nothing. I would stare at the silvery roots shooting out of the base of the plant and wonder if it was still alive. My husband was convinced he had killed it when he accidentally bumped into the stem and cracked it off.
After a couple of years, I considered throwing out this barren plant. After all, who needs something else to care for when there seems to be no sign of life?
Early in the fourth year, I noticed a new shoot growing out of the base. I couldn’t tell if it was just another silvery root or a potential new stem. I have since learned that certain orchids grow airborne roots. In the wild, these orchids grow above ground and their silvery roots attach themselves to tree branches.
After a few weeks, the new growth started shooting up and tiny buds appeared at the tip. My excitement grew when I noticed bright pink velvet peeping through the tips.
I came downstairs one morning and was greeted by two full fuchsia blooms, proudly standing at attention.
When I had checked on them the day before, they had just started to unfurl. I smiled and thanked God for the brightness it brought to a dreary winter day. As I sat down for my quiet time with Him, He gently reminded me what the date was – the fourth anniversary of my mom’s homecoming to heaven.
I blinked back tears as I reflected on the tenderness and goodness of our Father’s heart. That He would reach down from heaven to remind me of my mom’s new life in eternity.
Sometimes, God smiles at us from heaven. Other times, He sends us a kiss.
How has our Father revealed His great love to you in unexpected ways?
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