Where to Go?

I was recently talking with family out in Washington state. They were talking about a beautiful pink flower that was growing there. Even though the computers said that it could grow almost anywhere as an annual flower (one that needed to be planted each year), it generally stayed on the West Coast and a little on the East Coast of the United States. It is a beautiful plant and it makes me wonder why I don’t see it grow around here in Northern Wisconsin. It then got me thinking of a beautiful plant we had in South Dakota called Pasque. I remember seeing one growing wild in a pasture and digging it up to plant it in our flower bed. It didn’t take more than a few days to figure out that it wouldn’t grow there. Isn’t that odd. It will grow in the wild, fighting to survive among all the grasses and weeds, but it cannot survive a domesticated life. It got me thinking about how we sometimes just need to grow where we are planted. Like the Pasque, if we try to take on a ministry or some service for God that we have not been called to, it may very likely not blossom. One person can preach in the inner city while another might fail, if they tried. If doesn’t matter how much we try to nurture something, it will likely not thrive if God’s hand is not on it. If, however, we grow where we are planted, using the gifts we have been given, and seek God’s direction often, I believer that we will see that ministry grow. I looked at a plant in the field and wanted it to grow in my garden. Likewise, I can’t be longing for the talents given to others. There have been many times I have thought... if only I could preach like that... if only I could know everything they know... if only I could not only see those in need, but have the gifts to assist them. I think we all have longed for things that are not ours. This also means that we might have to adjust what we are doing to match our changing abilities. Since I am having knee issues, I probably won’t be a good runner or being active on my feet, but there are still things I can do. Likewise, as your circumstances change, you might need to approach what you do and can do differently. First, pray that God would reveal His gifts in you and then ask God to show you how to use them for His glory. Father, Forgive me for the times that I long for things that are not mine to have. Help me to joyfully serve you with what I do have. Amen