Planted.

I heard his thundering voice coming from the garden, met with 6 year old protests. I listened more closely and could hear Ben telling Harlow, “Don’t cut them!”

I gazed at the plethora of zinnias, arranged in a row with a pink darting to the top here and an orange peeking to the side there. It looked like enough to spare a few bulbs.

But I knew what he was doing.

We weren’t in our garden at our home. Although we appreciate and point out the lavishness God poured into creation, we are quick to remind the kids (all 4) that we shouldn’t pick flowers others have planted without permission. Aka at the resort restaurant this summer nor the first bloom beside Granny’s gazebo.

Seeing the top of Harlow’s blonde hair and the urgency in her voice, I could tell she just wanted to share this beauty. She was stomping her foot saying, “I want to show Mama!” The twins had two limp stems in their hands already.

Gearing up to go to blows over the blooms, I heard a gentle voice say, “That’s why I planted them.”

Not loud. Not fussy. Just sure of the situation.

We all turned to see Debbie walking into the garden with her scissors and a container. She went about helping Harlow and the twins select their favorite blooms, cutting them at the correct spot, and arranging them in the container (or palms for Dessie Claire and Bo).

It struck me that she wasn’t concerned that the children may pick the best flowers nor the one she had been watching and waiting to reach its peak height. She didn’t stop them from getting more than was really necessary. Just tenderly clipped and snipped the harvest of her labor to share with eager grandbabies.

And if that isn’t the picture of Jesus, I don’t know what is.

Because that’s exactly the way Jesus lavishes his love on his people. He is good and what he gives is good. We struggle to comprehend his love as been non-transactional. No strings attached.

That’s why I planted them.

He, the Creator, has had a design and plan from the very beginning and delights in us, the created. We can see his precision and intentionality in the created world around us everywhere we go. There are 66 books packed to the brim with stories and people rooted in nature that tell us more of God’s character! He planted the fig tree that would soon be cursed, the tree that grew for Zacchaeus to one day climb, and the flowers that would perfume the tomb.

He did it for them. He did it for me. He did it for you.

He’s not running out of flowers – or mercy or grace or miracles. He is the well that never runs dry.

What would it look like to love and serve those around us today in this way? To give them our best, our first, without holding back or expecting anything in return?

That’s why I planted them.

That’s me and you. That’s why he planted us.