A Fable About Flowers

 All the spring flowers at Lowes were on edge. A couple, named the Abbotts, had just come in and were scouting out spring flowers for their yard. The Lowes’ flowers had heard rumors about flowers that ended up at the Abbott’ home. Most flowers wouldn’t make it through the summer. 

Rumor has it that the Abbotts don’t always remember to water their flowers. All the flowers at Lowes knew that meant their life would be cut short. They were Texas' flowers and needed gentle, loving care amidst the Texas heat.

Everyone ducked as the Abbott’s made their way around the flowers at Lowes. When the Abbotts finally snatched up their pristine flowers, the other flowers let out a sigh of relief. “We’ve been saved!” they said. They were so grateful to stay under the nice sprinklers and live in such a loving and attentive home at Lowes.

I have great intentions of watering my flowers at the beginning of the summer. In fact, it should be easy for me to remember. I walk past my flowers every time I leave the house. But, as time goes on, I forget. Sure, I have excuses. I get busy. I don’t pay attention. I put it off.

It’s a lot like our relationships. Let’s start with God. Sure, you know about God and at times you may feel really close with God. Do you remember that point in time where your relationship with God took off? It began to grow and you planted your life with God, much like the flowers in my pot. You were good with God. But things happened. Sometimes, bad things. God didn't come through for you. You got busy. Distracted. 

Aren’t those things that are pervasive, always there, the things that get neglected the most?

Think about your relationships with your family. As we go in and out the door every day, do you make it a priority to water those relationships with love? Loving our family members every day isn’t easy. Busyness, irritations, disagreements and laziness can contribute to relationship challenges.

What about the people you interact with at work? Do you water and nurture those relationships? We can be so focused on a work project, our own stress or deadline, that we forget to cultivate our work relationships.  

God never leaves. He always wants to fill our thirst. Likewise, we can proactively nurture and tend to our other relationships. 

For he will be like a tree planted by the water and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.