My favorite bush is the purple sage, so against all odds I ordered one online–and a week later, even after being misdirected to New Jersey instead of North Texas, the little guy arrived alive and well. Then one day, as I locked my door to head for work, I noticed tiny green buds at the end of each branch.
As I drove home from work later that day, I noticed every purple sage bush I passed by was in bloom. Imagine my joy when I got to my apartment to see mine in full color as well. Hurray. Well done little plant!
Now, how did every sage bush in my city know to bloom on the same day? Perhaps you can conjure up a scientific reason, but for me, that wouldn’t negate the fact that it had to be a God thing.
There is a lesson in that for us, don’t you think? No sage bush would fold its branches and say, “Nope. I refuse to do it. Can’t make me. I will do things my way.” Nature responds in the way it was created to respond.
The familiar phrase, “Bloom where you are planted” is credited to Saint Francis de Sales. He lived almost five hundred years ago. He is one of my favorite writers. His wisdom is so pure, untarnished, and simple. No matter where we are in life, God can still use us to His glory to bring beauty, joy, empathy, or relief into someone’s life.
Here is another saying of his I love:
What if we chose to respond the way Saint Francis de Sale describes? That no matter what happens, rain or shine, cold or hot, day or night, we could still bloom with a beautiful peace, witnessing to the belief that our Father in Heaven is there and He cares?
Maybe that is why I love purple sages. They remind me of that fact, often just when I need it.
Where Did You Find God Today? 