Patience, Grasshopper

Whenever I buy flowers, I look for those with the most buds. They don't look quite as beautiful as some of the fuller bouqets/plants, but I always figure they will look better further in the future.

The orchid pictured above is a good example of that. In the past week and a half since I bought the plant, I've been able to watch as several buds slowly unfold.

It's tempting to reach and peel back the layers of the bud. I know that a beautiful flower lays inside, and I just want a full and beautiful orchid plant. But, obviously, doing so would only ruin the flower.

I am well aware that science has a perfectly logical explanation for why the bud opens when it does. But, the spiritual side of me sees a valuable parallel in learning to wait for God's timing. We all have our own "buds" in our lives. We want to rush ahead and do things in our own time. But God's timing is ultimately better.

Today I had a conversation with a friend about a struggle I am having. Through this particular struggle, I am learning some valuable life lessons. I was whining, yet again, that I didn't learn them sooner.

But just like the bud will become a flower in it's time, things in my life will work out through God's perfect timing. If I can't figure out how to wait and trust Him, I'll miss out on some of the beauty of life.