Reflection Moment
Bloom Where You are Planted

Sometimes we ladies get depressed and think we aren’t worth much, nobody loves us, and it doesn’t make any difference what we do – nobody really cares. Some of you have little ones at home and you feel like all you do is cook, clean, change nappies, chauffeur kids all over the place, and on and on. It is the same old routine over and over again. Some of us are very lonely. And some of us are in pain. This evening I hope we will discover together that whatever you are doing, if you are doing it for the glory of the Lord – and if you are using the time and tools at your disposal at this particular time in your life, then you are doing fine! How do you feel about yourself and your life right now? Do you like where God has planted you? I would guess that several of us aren’t exactly thrilled with where we are planted. Maybe we didn’t want to be single this long, we didn’t expect to be a widow at such a young age, we never thought our husband would leave, we didn’t imagine we would ever get cancer or have a stroke, we didn’t think our child would get in trouble one day, we never thought we’d have to care for our aging parents, we didn’t expect that handicapped child, we never got the child we prayed for, we lost the job we loved… There are as many stories here as there are people in this room. God has planted us somewhere and He does expect us to bloom right where we are, but how?

There are several women in the Bible who probably didn’t feel like they were worth much but ended up making a huge difference in God’s kingdom. When you get a chance go back and study the lives of Rahab, Dorcas, and the widow with two mites. We must be willing to use what we have today- bloom right here where we are planted – not daydream about what we will do tomorrow when we are a little wiser, a little older, a little richer, stronger, more capable, or have more time. We must not look around and wish we could look like someone else, be someone else, have what someone else has, do what someone else is doing. Colossians 3:17 says, “and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” Small, seemingly unimportant things used for God, surrendered to Him, become very important. We are to “occupy till He comes.” (Luke 19:13). We need to get busy.

You are a unique person in a unique place. Everything we do is important and worth something when it is done for the Lord. Quit counting your days. Begin making your days count!! Do you believe God’s word or not? Does He have the wisdom to put you where He needs you or not? He needs you to be exactly where He has planted you right now. Now be willing to move if He moves you. Just make sure He is the one moving you when the time comes. You can be used of God right NOW. Never feel unimportant; God has a special task for you every day of your life. You never know how a very simple deed done with our hands can make a wonderful difference in a person’s life…remember Rahab’s scarlet thread…saved herself and her family from certain death…Dorcas clothed a community and was raised from the dead for her faithfulness…the widow with two mites…gave all she had and God provided. Bloom Where You are Planted!!

Valerie Keefe