Plumeria Blooms

I have this plant that was given to me by a friend thirteen years ago when she went on a family vacation to Hawaii. The details are fuzzy about the gifting, whether she knew it was my favorite flower (it is), and even where I lived when she gave it to me. I have no green thumb, but I planted it.

This little plant moved with me to at least ten different colleges, seminary, and

newly working apartments and houses. It moved with me from Georgia to Florida, back to Georgia, then to Texas, and to Virginia, and now back to Georgia. This little plumeria, with its thin little stalk and big leaves, rode strapped into seatbelts in more rides across this country than my son has managed to take.

My blooming plumeria

I've somehow kept it alive in the darkest of apartments with nearly no natural light, and in the scorching heat of Texas summers. It's gotten snowed on, rained on, knocked over, and ignored. But somehow this little plant has stayed alive for thirteen years, never flowering, never thriving, but still living. Throughout our time together, I have watered it, tried to tend to it and keep it alive. Somewhere along the way, I just assumed this little plumeria was never going to flower.

But this week, miracle of miracles, my not so little plumeria plant has decided to flower. And after tending it for so long, it really does feel like a miracle. To finally see these flowers that I have hoped for, and given up on, for thirteen years.

I see why Jesus spoke so often in agricultural metaphors. I'm not a very patient person, but I couldn't give up on tending this plant. It was there, so it needed to be watered, just like so many things in our lives. And these sweet plumeria blooms have reminded me of the importance of the little things that we tend in our lives. How, often our little acts of kindness, love, or faithfulness can feel like little drops in the bucket that do not make a difference. Sometimes, even holding faith can feel like a thankless act, like watering a plant for thirteen years. And yet, at some point these small acts in our lives will flower.

So today, enjoy a picture of my precious plumerias and be encouraged to continue whatever good works God has laid before you. No matter how small or how long, their flowers will be worth it.