Written by Beth Jordahl
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through Him.” - Colossians 3:17
I love summer! The weather is warm, the sun is shining, the stresses of the school year have faded, and there is a delightful haze that surrounds the beauty of the season.
If you like to garden, you also know that it is a season when all the plants are blooming and growing. Plants are green, flowers are opening, and fruits and veggies are ripening.
All of that hard work you have put in starts to become visible.
As you all know, Jesus liked to use stories to share truth with all of us. When he would speak about faith, he often used the imagery of gardens and plants. This imagery is actually continued throughout the Bible… the fruit of the Spirit, the parable of the sower, the garden of Eden. I could go on and on! But you get the picture.
There is something about the growth of the plants around us that can be connected to our faith. The flowers in some Bible verses symbolize beauty, growth and life. The message of God’s comfort compared to the perishable and temporary nature of humanity.
Take this verse for example:
“Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel, or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display His glory, the splendor of our God.”
- Isaiah 35:1-2
This past year, you have put in a lot of work.
You went to class, you practiced, you probably had a myriad of other things on your plate to accomplish as well. Then at the recital, you flourished! Your performances were amazing, breath-taking and inspiring.
So now what?
How do you take all of the effort and enjoy it for a while?
My friends, you follow the example of the flower and you BLOOM.
“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you.”
- Luke 12:27-28
What does that look like?
- You stay planted.
Are you spending time in God’s word? Are you still worshiping? Don’t disregard all of the things that have helped you grow this year. Just like you have to continue to strengthen your body or you risk losing your dancer flexibility and strength, the same goes for your faith. Make sure that you set aside time every day to reset your intentions and check in with your heart and with God.
- You release your worries.
Just like the flowers of the field are taken care of by their Father, you will be too. It doesn’t always look the way we want it to. But trust the process! Let go of things that are outside of your control. And focus on what you can control: your response, your attitude, and the way you use your time.
- Spread the beauty!
Flowers don’t just bloom for themselves. They bloom and we all stand back and admire their beauty. How can you take what you have and bless others? Can you spend time with your family or friends? Can you share kind words? Can you give away your time, resources, or skills?
- Enjoy the time.
That is the thing about blooming, it’s just a season. Soon we will all return to the normalcy of the school year, with it’s requirements, tasks, and hard work. There will be so much to learn and do! You will grow even more. So don’t forget to enjoy this season!
Dear dancers, what a blessing you are! To your teachers, friends, classmates, and family. Go and continue to grow and bloom this season.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” - Numbers 6:24-26