The Right Conditions.

I am not a gardener. I do not have a green thumb. As much as I wish I could keep plants alive, I can't. Usually, it's watering. I for most of my life I could barely remember to water myself, so plants were pretty far down the list. Although sunlight and soil are also considerations I forget.

Nevertheless, I always wanted to be a plant person. Growing up my mom had as many African violets as there were shades of violet. And she kept them blooming constantly. I was constantly amazed. To this day, I panic buy African violets whenever I see them on sale thinking that this time I'll manage to make them grow, to make them flower, to bring that natural gleam of beauty to my space. Alas. I have never been able to make a plant flower.

UNTIL NOW.

I have this one leafy plant that has been holding on for years. I love it. Even though I've literally forgotten about it for months at a time, there is always one green leaf holding out, giving me hope (and a reminder to water the dang thing).

This plant which I have managed to keep alive for nearly 10 years, recently started to thrive. Maybe it's because it's right near my desk, which I have been sitting at significantly more often in recent months (thanks, COVID), so I see it more often, so I water it more regularly. Maybe it's because my Mother-in-Law gave me plant food in the form of sticks so I can't mess up feeding my plants. Maybe it's because this summer has been so outrageously hot and sunny. Regardless of why, my plant has transformed from two pale, sickly green leafs into a veritable fountain of greenery.

OK- this may be a slight exaggeration. But I think it looks great!

The thing is... my plant started to... grow a new plant, a different plant, a plant I've never seen before. The long shoot coming out of the top began to bud, and then, to my utter amazement, it bloomed.

Little white flowers. Popping in to existence before my very eyes.

I messaged the aforementioned MIL to tell her about this miracle, and she wrote back the most profound 5 words.

"The conditions have been right!"

What? Woah.

I have been caring for this plant for 10 years, and I had no idea that it was supposed to bloom. I wasn't expecting it, I wasn't looking for it, I was taken aback by this development. When all along, it fought for life, it strove to continue to exist, waiting for the right conditions, the right time, to bloom.

People are like this too. We flourish when in the right conditions, but the qualities that are within us don't disappear under adverse conditions, even when we are down to our last leaf a trickle of life giving water can bring us back, can keep us in the game, can remind us that there is more to come. That we have more to offer.

This plant reminded me that it doesn't matter if you've never done something before, or if it's been years since you did it. It doesn't matter if the odds are stacked against you. Or if no one expects you to succeed. Even in the midst of adversity, if we can persevere, we will eventually find the right conditions. Then, we too, can bloom.

There's another reminder this bloom gave me. Even though I'm a terrible gardener, there is one who is very, very, good at gardening. I have to believe that even if my conditions aren't right, right now, that "My father [who] is the Gardener" (John 15:1) is keeping an eye on me. Giving me water and sunlight and sustenance even, maybe especially, when I need it most. I believe He is doing the same for you.

So keep going. The right conditions are coming.