Hidden Beauty

I have been watching Mom’s 6 gerber daisies grow into very full, vibrant, colorful plants beside our screened porch. And when I say “full”, I mean that these leaves are the largest I have ever seen - larger than my hand! If these were salad leaves, we could all have a feast!! But lately I have been concerned that the flowers are not as visible as last year. Last year, I had no trouble cutting flowers with lengthy stems to take to a friend in the nursing home so are they not growing as tall this year? Actually what seems to be happening is that the flowers are being dwarfed by the lusciously large leaves. Here is an example:

Pretty amazing, aren’t they? So I decided to cut back the leaves. I am not sure what will happen, but at least I will be able to see the blooms and cut them before they are finished blooming.

As I began cutting, guess what God showed me?? I removed several large leaves, and I saw more of the inner part of the plant, as well as another bloom! How wonderful!

A few more snips, and I saw 2 more buds!!! What?? Where were they? I could not begin to see them even if the leaves had not been so large. What hidden beauty!

Through this process, God showed me that we each have many layers - layers which make up such things as our personality, character, thoughts, desires, hurts. It is not until we begin to peel back those layers (or leaves) that the real beauty of each of us is revealed. These layers may be peeled back by trials that we go through, studying of the Word that we delve into, or friends who help us to see ourselves for who we are. We are sons and daughters of the King, but sometimes it is so hard for us to see our role unless someone else points it out to us.

As the layers come off, the hidden beauty of the person becomes more and more revealed. That inner person begins to show through. As I am learning to know our new congregational members, I am letting God open the doors to those inner persons and their needs. I am asking Him to allow me to see the removing of some layers in order to know their hearts more deeply. Today God opened a door for me, and I walked right through it! How awesome our living and compassionate God is!

Let us continue to ask God to be patient with us as we learn to follow His timeline. Let us take the time to look under the layers of others as God allows. What a humbling experience this is continuing to be for Mike and me! We love the people we are now in fellowship with! May God bless everyone of them!

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel