"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." I Peter 3:4
Last weekend, we enjoyed an event at my house. We celebrated with a luncheon to show for the volunteers who help support pregnant women through the nonprofit SOUL - Sanctuary Of Unborn Life.
We prepared food and gifts and a prayer and cooked and cleaned to get ready. But truly?
Decorating was the best part. And to me, decorating means FLOWERS.
Flowers and me go way back. I don't think that's proper grammar, but it sounds better that way. Flowers and me. My grandmother grew flowers... and children and animals and vegetables and fruits and nuts. (Or were those the children, the fruits and nuts?) Don't mind my crazy family, those Polish Lesniewskis!
But seriously, my grandmother raised seven children on a farm with cows and a milk house and a corn crib and enormous vegetable gardens. She grew apple and black walnut trees, grape vines, and even garlic. (Sometime I'll have to tell you a story about the garlic.)
Best of all, she grew FLOWERS. My favorites were her gigantic lilac bush lending its sweet fragrance to the month of May, and a profusion of hollyhocks growing along the side of her simple white clapboard house.
Here it is, long after grandma passed away. It's very overgrown, but a few tall hollyhocks are still there alongside the chimney.
Grandma Lesniewski passed the gardening genes down to my mom. My mother's garden is a sight to behold with hostas, her favorite lilies and more. Here's my mom in her flower garden.
Her garden from where she was standing...
And a glance into her back yard.
So yes, flowers and me go back into generations past.
I don't garden as much as I'd like, but I love bringing home armloads of flowers. Now I add mason jars with candles inside and artichokes and figs - because they add beauty too.
I'm sure my gardening grandma would approve.
It's good to find beauty in all things God created.
Remember, God created YOU, too. He sees BEAUTY in you. To deny your beauty insults God your creator.
You wouldn't dare insult your creator, God, would you?
God creates BEAUTY where the world leaves ashes.
See the beauty in nature. See the beauty in others. See the beauty in yourself.
And celebrate like we did last weekend. Celebrate life, and love, and beauty in all things.
"To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." Isaiah 61:3