With all the rain we’ve had in the Hill Country of Texas this Spring, we’ve had one of the most beautiful displays of wild flowers. The variety of flowers, the brilliant colors and the lush grasses have created dense carpets of color rolling out over the hills. It’s been a joy to see the countryside as we drive along on our errands.

As bluebonnets gave way to Indian paintbrush and Indian blankets and then to sunflowers, wild petunias, ragweed and flowering cactus, it got me to thinking. Would I choose one of these flowers or grasses over another? Would I choose to miss any one of these in our spring-time display? What if one or two or even three of these disappeared for good? Would the display be as beautiful or soul satisfying?

The truth is I can’t choose one variety over another. They are all beautiful in their own way. Each one contributes and makes an impact in the landscape that the others cannot.

On occasion my husband, John, has bought me bouquets of flowers. My favorites have a variety in them and each brings a unique texture, color and harmony to the arrangement. As they start to die and I remove one kind, then another from the bouquet, the bouquet loses its impact. It is the combination that makes it stunning. The loss of any of the components causes the whole to suffer.

So it is with our families, our church community and the larger world around us. We are brothers and sisters. Each of us contributes to the whole in a unique way. Losing someone’s presence, talents, and testimony affects all of us. As the Apostle Paul explained to the Corinthians:

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” (1 Cor. 14-17, 21)

Paul goes on to explain how important each part/person is in God’s sight. The flowers reminded me of how each of us come with different abilities, temperaments, perspectives and talents. Yet that variety is what can create such richness in our families, church communities and this world if we can love and respect each other.

I encourage you to look for what each person in your sphere contributes, especially those with whom you may struggle. As we celebrate and appreciate what each person can contribute to the Lord’s Kingdom (and include yourself in that!) we will truly see the beauty of his bouquet.

Wishing you peace in Christ,

Audrey