I’ve been asked the question, “Flowers or chocolate?”
For me, the answer has always been flowers.
Every time I see a flower, I’m reminded of Matthew 6:29-30 & 33, ”See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? […] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Our Lord Provider loves to give good gifts to His children.
I remember the first rose I picked at the orphanage in Latacunga was a huge, pink, gorgeous rose. Pink is not my color, but it was a beautiful reminder of the childlike wonder and joy I had as a little girl, and could experience again at 22.
While out exploring, we noticed hundreds of roses piled up—neglected and unwanted. We were curious and gathered up the courage to ask our neighbor farmer if we could have his discarded roses.
He tried to explain to us that they were either sick or imperfect, and that they weren’t worth it.
Don’t worry, we convinced him otherwise!
That day, we picked out several bouquets worth of pink, red, white, and yellow roses. We were giggling and laughing like little girls, throwing petals up in the air and showing each other the delicate intricacies of the roses we were collecting.
I was on cloud nine.
That night, we laid out crystal and ate a beautiful dinner around our table. The roses were a perfect touch.
The farmer told us to come back the next day in the morning and so we did. Upon arriving we saw a whole new pile of freshly discarded roses. We picked out over a hundred roses and decided to have a spontaneous special day. We had an outdoor picnic and dressed up to have a photo shoot with our roses.
The orphanage also had a rose garden. Upon leaving, the Tias gave us a bouquet of roses, freshly cut from their garden. It was a beautiful gift.
Roses only last for a short time, before withering away and dying. But when they are in full bloom, they are something to behold.
I wouldn’t have traded our experience of receiving hundreds of roses as a gift from our Father for the world. Just because they eventually withered away doesn’t mean they made a lasting, beautiful impression on my mind.
In the same way, it was like our time with our kiddos at the orphanage. Our time together was fleeting, but beautiful. I experienced so much childlike joy and learned to love these orphans in a way I didn’t know I could love. My heart was broken when I left them—it was the hardest goodbye I’ve had to say yet, but the hurt that I experienced didn’t compare to the relationships I created with the kids.
Jesus did short term missions in His later years. He didn’t stay long, but He made an impact on those He met.
We made an impact on those kids, and they sure did a number on us too.
Our time was too short with our children, but my heart was changed forever in the week and a half I was with them. I’ve seen a new level of depth of God’s goodness, compassion, love, and redemption.
We were a garden of roses in full bloom, in awe of the Gardener who tends to us with loving care.
