The Tulip

From Dr. Wess Stafford in his book, “Too small to ignore”, comes this story that I read in my devotional time this morning. I hope it blesses and challenges you as it has me.

“ I remember as a young child in Africa coming upon a wild tulip in the jungle at the side of the road. A cement block had apparently fallen off a truck and rolled down the embankment to the jungle’s edge. Now the stem of the wildflower was twisted and gnarled as it had struggled to grow from under that cement block. It had contorted itself first this way and then that, seeking the light of day, until it had at long last found the edge of the blockage. Once freed, it had taken off as best it could in an upward direction. Its struggle had produced a tulip, but it was stunted, small and weak, exhausted. A flower alive, but barely, Its early struggle to overcome its blockage had sapped its strength, potential and growth.

As I think about that tragic flower, I now realize that God had done his part. He built a perfect design into the DNA of that little tulip bulb, a potential for beautiful color size and fragrance. The Bible tells us God has also done that in the life of each child. Each is beautifully knit together in the mother’s womb. Though some children are born with defects and imperfections that break a parent’s heart, none are beyond God’s ability to work in that new life and receive great joy and glory from what He has created. No Mistakes!

Likewise children were made to grow, develop, thrive and reach the fullness God knit into them. He lovingly said in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you….plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Having read that this morning, I am wondering what cement blocks I might find today to move off of the lives of people who are struggling to find some light.