Grow - Even When Pruned

Ever since working at Scenic Nursery for 4 years, I have relished the flowers that God put on this earth.  They add beauty to our everyday lives. Arrange a few lovelies in a vase and they are able to perk up someone else's day. (So much fun to give away!)  A week ago last Thursday, Stephen went down for a nap before Sarah woke up for the day.  Aaron and John had went to visit the neighbors and I unexpectedly had uninterrupted time.  So not only did I go out and pick flowers, I also snapped a few photos.  A post had been brewing in my head since observing the following picture.

You see, this arrangement started probably a week prior with 8 stalks of Gladiolas.  Glad's have the unusual ability to grow after they are picked.  I changed the water and pulled the bottom few droopy blooms off of the stems every few days.  and the stems, once tight and compact at the top, reaching ever straight for the sky just keep growing. I'm not sure if the curvy one above was just extra long and didn't have a strong enough stem, or if it was growing towards the light.  Regardless, they rather intrigued me. they have a soft sweet beauty that doesn't reside in the fresh bouquet.  This day I picked a new handful of glads....and you can see the difference in how they look

"Grow in grace and in the further knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ".  Sometimes when we are pruned, we stick straight up with pride...perhaps resisting the grace that God wants to soften our lives with.  "I" don't like to be wrong.  "I" don't want to be humble.  God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

Let's all keep growing, growing in grace, even when pruned.  It's hard, it's not fun...but oh the beauty of praise it brings to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We felt pruned in Annual Meeting 2009.  One of my favorite blessings to come from that is our roses.  You see, we used to have 7 or 8 crepe myrtles below our slope lawn.  They were a blah light lilac color, always mildewed, and (b/c they had originally been bush form pruned into tree form) would always grow ugly crops of suckers all summer long. So AM 09 gave us the impetus to pull them out and I planted 14 roses.  7 Pink Perfection, and 7 Mr. Lincoln. My plan was to have multitudes of roses all the same color =)   This is their 3rd year and the bushes are strong and hardy.  I'm loving all the flowers that they produce.  Blessings out of Pain, yes?

 

The square Atlas pt canning jar has turned into a favorite vase since it has a chip that will prevent a seal =)

This little vase only holds a few, but fits on our small bathroom counter quite nicely.  Flowers in my bathroom always feel like a luxury =)  Maybe this inspires you to grow when pruned or maybe just to add some beauty to the everyday life of a busy house.

So by now you know me and my thought questions....this time you get to pick one to answer!

 How do you bring beauty to your home?  or the harder one
When have you grown when pruned?


And yes, a family post is coming...had to get this one out of the way first.