Before the Purple Blooms.

As I sat on the deck this morning in the quiet stillness, my eyes kept drifting from my prayer journal to the flowerpot in front of me. It holds a plant I sowed two years ago, and seeing it now brings me joy.

In the past, I usually bought those massive, pre-arranged flowerpots from Costco—the ones overflowing with a perfect, vibrant display of colors. But last summer, I decided to try something different. I bought a bag of mixed flower seeds, filled a large pot, and planted them all. I was full of hope, visualizing a spectacular, colorful bloom just like the store-bought arrangements.

I placed the pot in front of my house and checked it constantly, waiting for the seeds to grow. Finally, the day arrived. Stems sprouted and grew tall, and my excitement grew with them. But one morning, I walked outside and my heart sank. A deer had eaten every single bud. There would be no flowers that summer.

Deeply disappointed, I was ready to throw the whole pot away and vow to only buy mature flowers from Costco from now on. But instead, I chose to pause. I decided to appreciate the beautiful green stems that remained. After all, something had grown, and I found encouragement in that small victory.

I also learned a valuable lesson: next year, I needed to place the pot higher up on a stand, well out of the deer's reach.

That is exactly what I did this year. Before long, beautiful yellow flowers bloomed. They have since faded, but while they lasted, I stared at them with pure joy. Now, a purple flower is sprouting, bringing a wide smile to my face.

Looking at it, I realized God was teaching me a deeper lesson. Sometimes He says, “Remove yourself from where you are vulnerable and place yourself on My stand. Watch how you will grow.”

Yes, we make mistakes or face setbacks. But as long as we don't throw in the towel and instead learn from our bad choices, God can do amazing things. He can still make us grow.

Scripture tells us in John 10:10 that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came so that we may have life, and have it to the full. Thank you, Lord, for using this flowerpot to remind me that You have placed seeds inside of me. My job is simply to do my part again—but this time, wiser and smarter. There are flowers inside all of us waiting to bloom; sometimes, we just have to lift our seeds higher.

Dear God, I am so grateful for this visual reminder. There are things in my life I have given up on because I was heartbroken. I tried so hard, yet I didn’t get the answers I expected. But I hear You reminding me that Your ways of making things grow do not always match my ways (read Isaiah 55:8-9).

You are telling me to simply bring my prayers, goals, and desires to You. As I do my part to water them, I trust that You will take my efforts and multiply them, even if it is not on my timeline. Help me to be patient and to enjoy the process. When I cannot see the "flowers" yet, help me to still find joy in the green stems and leaves. They are my daily reminder that growth is happening, and that one day, the bloom will come.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

If you are a woman looking for fresh place to grow, I invite you to reach out so I can tell you more about my Christian Coaching Group Conexione (Connections). My fall group is full but I will love to connect and place you on a waitlist. Message at: https://www.oliviahudsonlifecoach.com/contact-me