An Amaryllis Gift

Matthew 6:28-29 – Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (KJV)

I recently received an amaryllis bulb from the ladies of my church. It is the kind of present you have to wait to enjoy. I had one given to me last year, but it was a failure. As I examined the bulb, I thought, "Can a magnificent flower like the one in the picture emerge from this ugly brown shape?"

I needn't have worried. Before my eyes, the amaryllis grew almost daily. When it reached nineteen inches, I noticed a tiny split at the peak. The next morning, the split had widened to reveal a hint of red. Soon, the folds of a flower appeared, and the petals took shape.

Nature is full of wonders. Even if a plant is shielded from the right elements, it will reach beyond itself in search of what it needs. We too are like plants. From the care we receive in our early years, we grow and develop layers of wisdom and knowledge. Someday, like that beautiful red blossom, a person bursts forth in the form and shape that nature and heredity intended. As Browning said, "Man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?"

Even if we do not reach our potential within our lifetime, the important thing is to struggle and search, adding layers of our development. Success in life is not measured by achieving one's goals, but by actively striving for them.

Let us learn as though we will live forever — and live as though we should die tomorrow.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, be with us as we struggle and grow. Help us to reach our true potential. Give us strength, courage, and wisdom to know not that we love You, but that You love us. Amen.