Women and Flowers

I love flowers and have yet to meet a woman who does not. I think flowers are great for representing femininity: beautiful, gentle, delicate…even smelling good! (I would hope!)

Flowers can truly brighten a woman’s day. For Valentine’s Day this year, every woman at church was given roses. Giggles and warm smiles filled the room as every one of us inspected our flowers, took the smell in and happily held them in our hands, keeping them safe from harm.

They say that we usually like things that either represent us or that we want to represent us.

For instance, if you are adventurous, you would love to get invited to a hiking event. If you like more “chill” activities, you smile at the chance to cuddle up at home while drinking a cup of hot cocoa.

Back to women and flowers, there is no wonder we do like them. They are so similar to what God designed us to be.

1 Peter 3:3-4 says:

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

Gentle. Soft. Kind. Precious. With unfading beauty. Calm. Meek. Peaceful.

Wow. Am I the only one who believes this does not describe us a good deal of the time?

You see, I’ve realized that we often allow circumstances to harden us away from how we were intended to be. Thinking back at times where I’ve lacked peace, I can surely say that 100% of it was tied with daily circumstances: whether they be external or in the heart. We can be constantly worried, seldom satisfied and often without peace.

Ladies, let this be a challenge for us. There’s no better place to be that in the will of our Father, fulfilling the design that he has for us. And isn’t that a sweet design? He wants us to be peaceful, showing kindness to all. Having an inner, admirable beauty that never fades away.

But how can I soften my heart? How can I be kinder, happier, gentler? How can I avoid falling into this world’s definitions that tell me to worry much, try hard, live for myself, expect all and partake in an insatiable search for “happiness”?  I don’t know about you, but these are all things that rob me of peace and the chance to enjoy what I have available to me now.

Alas, God speaks:

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26

The answer is in the one who designed us this way in the first place. He is the one who can help us be the women He intended us to be.

And, doesn’t that make sense? We know this in many practical ways.

I suck at reading instructions. When I buy something, there is a certain thrill that I find in trying to figure out the set up by myself. A good deal of times, I end up putting things where they don’t belong and doing double the work.

What can we learn from this? We can stop trying to figure out this “woman” thing by ourselves. We can stop “winging it” in hopes of doing a good job, which often also leads us into putting things where they don’t belong — like worry for the future, unrealistic expectations on people and harshness in the place of gentleness and compassion.

Let’s ask our perfect Designer to lead us, to soften our hearts. Daily, constantly.

Let’s be guided by His word. Let’s hunger and thirst for wisdom and knowledge of what being a godly woman is about.

Let’s be thankful (tip: being thankful makes us happier and more appreciative of what we have. Before complaining, let’s express thankfulness. It can shift things around!)

Let’s pray for people we know. Yes, even those “hard to love”. Praying for people will also soften our hearts for them, which can result in kindness and compassion.

Let’s ask God to help us worry less and smile more.

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” 

― Mother Teresa