Believe in yourself … and others!

I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying, “Patience is a virtue.,” right?!  Well guess what, so is faith! Let’s rewind to last winter. I have always loved fresh flowers, especially peonies. But every time I go to buy them, I stop myself when I see the price tag. I’m not sure if peonies have a secret center of gold, but they are certainly priced as if they do. I decided I would fix that problem! So I went to the store and found some bulbs that I could grow on my own. They were a couple of bucks. I bought one small bag, with 2 bulbs in it. I immediately planted them next to the driveway and waited. And waited. And waited.  Spring came and went. Nothing. Then summer, then fall, and winter again. During this time, my boys would constantly trample over the mulch to rescue their baseballs and frisbees. And I can’t even tell you how many times I watched a basketball plop directly onto the spot I planted my bulbs. I would tell them, “Please stop letting the basketball roll over there … I am waiting for my flowers to grow!” And each time they would roll their eyes and say, “Mom, those flowers aren’t going to come up. It’s been too long.” Even my husband was skeptical after 12 months passed. I did not give up on my peonies though. I kept telling my family to have faith. If I said it once, I said it a million times, “You have to believe in something for it to grow.” Well yesterday, my 9 year old son ran over to me yelling, “Mom, come out of the garage and see this!” Sure enough, as soon as I walked over, I see my beloved peonies sprouting right out of the ground. I almost cried I was so happy to see those buds. And not just one, both of the bulbs produced! I was jumping up and down, screaming with delight! I looked my son straight in the eye, “See, if you are patient and have faith, good things will always happen.” I share this story not to rub it in my children’s face that I was right (although it did feel good for a moment), but to remind all of you – there is a season for everything. Maybe you have been hoping and wishing and praying for something in your life. And maybe nothing has happened. Like me, maybe you are staring at the empty ground, waiting month after month with no sign of life.  You must remember that God creates the magic when HIS time is right. It’s not about when we think it should happen. Beauty comes at unexpected times, and sometimes by surprise, but if you are steadfast in your conviction that growth will happen, it will. This belief extends to all areas of life. We all go through seasons. Some days I feel like my life is dormant. Other times, I feel like my life is going too fast. But we cannot get hung up on the mere details of each season.We have to keep our eye on the big picture. A picture that is framed by faith, painted with patience, and mounted on a positive attitude. Remember, just because you don’t see something growing, doesn’t mean it’s not awakening below the surface. Every now and then, we just need someone to believe in us to flourish. If you don’t have that someone in your life, know that I believe in you. Ask me. And every time I will tell you the same thing.  God planted you. So I know you can grow.