Sweet Alyssum

I talk about flowers a lot, I know. That’s because when I’m outside, working in my yard, I have time to think. I put my phone away and the TV is off. I enjoy the fresh air, plants and flowers, and pondering thoughts that are uninterrupted.

A couple days ago I was in my front yard, weeding and watering. As I walked over to my rose bed, I noticed a little plant growing in the crack of the sidewalk. It was some Sweet Alyssum. If you have grown alyssum, you know it spreads and reseeds easily.

So it wasn’t surprising to see a new plant starting up. But the location ... It was green, had the white flowers, and even had some scent. How was this plant growing in the crack of the cement? I pondered this for a while, and wondered about the lesson here. I thought of how maybe we should bloom wherever we are in life; in tough places like the crack in the concrete. I watered this flower, and kept an eye on it wondering how big it might get.

A few days later, I checked on the flower. It was shriveled up and dying. It had been doing so well, but now was fading away.

Aha! The story of the sower and the seeds.

In Luke chapter 8, Jesus taught about the farmer sowing seeds.

“A farmer went out to sow his seeds…”

Some seeds fell along the path, and were trampled (my little alyssum didn’t look trampled).

Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had

no moisture or roots.

That's it! Later Jesus explained in verse 13:

“Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing, they fall away.”

Isn’t it true for all of us at times? When things go well and we are healthy, we praise God. But when we have hard times and struggles, we lose sight of God and his purpose in our lives. Maybe like the alyssum, we need a better root and more nourishment.

Through the Word, and fellowship with others, we can be watered, fertilized, and grow.

Then we can flourish.

I’m thankful for the lesson from my little alyssum plant. We all need nourishment to grow, not only physically, but spiritually.

I pray God’s blessings on you and yours!

Kerry