“Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.” Hosea 6:3 (NKJV)
Several years ago my oldest daughter and I had a conversation. It was one of those that stick out all these years later. She was in her early twenties and had decided that college wasn’t where she wanted to be. At first, as parents, we thought this was a bad decision. But as we talked about it, we realized she was right. She had taken the courses she wanted to and at that point, all that were available to her. The conversation we had is one that many people have either with themselves or with people important to them.
The conversation was really about what I want to do when I grow up. At almost 70, I can say I still wonder about this.
That Christmas I found a book to give her, it was about those famous people in the world who did their best work in the middle and senior years of their lives. A fascinating and encouragement to those of us who haven’t yet achieved what the Lord has purposed for our lives.
This morning, as I walked and talked with the Lord, the rain was starting to spit (you know, a drop here, a drop there, not really a sprinkle yet) and I remembered that we were officially in the season of fall.
I looked at the leaves that have already begun to fall. I smiled as I thought that in a few weeks our driveway will be hidden under the abundance of leaves that have fallen.
We have a bush that grows straight up each year. The stems are thin and the leaves are huge on this bush. At the top of these spindly stems are blossoms. It will be another two weeks before they bloom into bright pink flowers. They fascinate me. As I walked towards them, I thought of late bloomers.
In my reverie, I glanced down to a weed that has been in my driveway (we have a gravel driveway). I have stepped on this weed several times, never bothering to just pull it out. About to put my foot down on it, I stopped. At the top of the weed were little white flowers. Again, a late bloomer.
Sometimes late bloomers don’t make a brilliant splash in lives. They are tiny, and easily overlooked. They may be out of focus (like my pictures) and insignificant. But, the Lord of all creation purposes each living creation with a specific task in life.
Like the earth with the early and late rains in our seasons, we each are watered and have growth in our lives. Our growth is different. Our blooms are different. Yes, the tall bush with the brilliant flowers draw the eye to them and it’s fun to see a spring color in the midst of falling leaves. I think of it like the last hurrah! A plant rebelling against the oncoming cold and frost. This little weed is just as significant though. It has grown up through the gravel and moss. It’s strength is incredible. It’s endurance has known no end. It produced it’s flowers, it bloomed.
What an encouragement to all of us late bloomers. Hold on through the hard times and the encroaching cold. The Lord has planted deep within you a purpose that will bloom if we can receive the former rain and the latter rain from our Creator. Take heart.
The Refreshing of a Wild Rose 