I had carefully nurtured and attended to the baskets of petunias suspended from the railing on my balcony. I was captivated by how rapidly they were thriving, sharing their long tendrils with a bounty of color. I watered them plentifully before my six day trip out of state. While visiting the upper Midwest of our beautiful county, I was unaware that my current residence in the southwest United States had begun hitting triple digit heat as summer had not yet arrived.

Upon returning home after my short trip, as I walked from my garage into my house, my spirits sank. The beauty of the floral baskets now was dry and limp. I almost wept when I believed all the splendor of their trailing blossoms had died. I opted to water them , with the hope they might have some life in their roots. Literally within minutes the stems were green and sturdy.

As I was sharing the tale of the “dead returning to life” a friend informed me she had two containers of petunias which she cast aside without water for several months. During a home renovation the vessels had been “tossed” and forgotten about. When she returned them to their original place of prominence in her yard and as she watered them, like my plants, they came “alive” with color and beauty. Over the years, I’ve had dozens of flora which have been left without water due to my absence and most didn’t survive. Their brown, brittle stems and blooms never returned to life even with much care.

I thought about petunias and orchids similar to fellow Christians.  Botanists note orchids are some of the most fragile flowers. I’ve known Christians that were like orchids. They shriveled up and became despondent over the slightest negative event in their life. They were unable to accept and adapt to the trials God was placing them through.

 Yet others were akin to  petunias. They might have been depleted of what they deemed God’s nourishment. However, they were “hanging on”. They knew God would be returning with the refreshing water they needed to become vibrant once again. Even when they appeared wilted, they were providing God’s love.

Each of us are unique individuals and we handle disappointment, discouragement and trauma in different ways. Some are “sturdy stock” petunias, while others are fragile orchids. What causes us to be sturdy or fragile? Growth in the Lord. If our roots are deep and secure in His word, we can withstand changes in our environment. If we are more shallow and not rooted in Him, changes may cause us to cease providing God’s beauty and kindness.

Recently during bible study there was a discussion about persons that call themselves Christians, yet show no proof of God’s love in their lives.   I Corinthians is filled with traits we should possess as Christians. We should all strive to be petunias from the characteristics of love.  I Cor. 13: 4-7 NIV, “ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy…it is not easily angered. It keeps no records of wrongs…it always protects, always trusts…always perseveres.