“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” Lady Bird Johnson
It was a gray, overcast day when I arrived home from work. Fall had at last shown up and the air was cool. But, when I went to let my dogs out, I was greeted by some very bright hibiscus blooms.
Hibiscus bushes are tropical. When I see them I think of summer. I planted them last spring in anticipation of the season to come. Now, it’s mid-October and the world has turned orange, with pumpkins everywhere, from our porches to our coffee. Mums and pansies are the flowers of the moment, all the rage, one might say.
But there stood those bright pink hibiscus blooms. They were completely unaware of their surroundings or that they weren’t the color of the moment. They didn’t seem to notice that the days are growing shorter and their time is growing short as well. At best, they will go dormant until spring, but the reality is, they probably won’t survive the winter.
But, there they stood proudly, in their tropical beauty, blooming boldly against the dreary sky, daring to share their gift with anyone who cared to stop and drink it in. Their act of continuing to thrive was not lost on me.
I went and got my phone so I could snap some pictures to capture the moment.
I thought of those hibiscus blooms long after it got dark outside. I thought about how we all have great gifts and graces to share with a world that desperately needs more light and less darkness and ugliness. Like those hibiscus, we need to continue to contribute our unique talents even when the seasons change, even when the skies are dark, even when we don’t know what the future holds.
Because a little light goes a long way, especially when it’s dark. A small act of kindness can change someone’s outlook. A kind word has the capability to soften a hardened heart.
We can all make a difference simply by being who God created us to be and giving that glory to Him . When we intentionally do that, we may find that our own stresses and worries fade away.
Some pink hibiscus blooms reminded me. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you needed reminding too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂