My wife’s cousin, Isabelle, lives at the top of a massive coastal dune. Over the years, despite the sandy conditions and with the help of lots of careful toil and compost, she has established a beautiful garden of flowering plants.

 

She delights in showing people her garden and, with obvious pride, will tell you the name of each plant, where it came from and when it flowers. 

Some of her plants were gifts from friends; some were bought from rare-plant nurseries; many were grown from cuttings she collected throughout the country. A few were rescued from rubbish dumps! Isabelle’s delight in her beloved flowers is a joy to behold.

Today’s scripture reminds us that we are each like precious plants in God’s garden. Our Creator, who ‘determines the numbers of the stars and calls them each by name’ (Psalm 147:4), knows our names and everything about us. 

Some of us God brought out of terrible situations; some were found in unexpected places; others he gathered from all parts of the earth. God rejoices when we bear flowers or fruit, no matter how insignificant it may seem. We are of great value to him, and he delights in us.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for seeing something valuable in our lives and calling us to be your own. Amen