Don’t let rocky times keep you from blooming

By Annettee Budzban

Daily Herald columnist

“For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away (and enjoy to the full) what is promised.”#8212; Hebrews 10:36 (AMP)

Looking out the large picture window, I noticed how my neighbor#146;s colorful tulips livened up the landscape. As I gazed and enjoyed the red, yellow and pink flowers, all of sudden a thought popped into my head, #147; I wonder if they are still there!#148;

I hurried out the back door over to the side of the garage. I peered around the corner, about halfway to the back of the garage, and spotted them. Three red tulips in perfect bloom. I was excited and amazed. They were back!

These three hardy blossoms survived another major blow. This special bouquet first appeared a few years ago after my husband dug up some weeds that were growing next to the house. He dug them up and buried them next to the garage. He doused them with paint thinner and covered them with dirt and rocks, thinking it was only a patch of weeds we didn#146;t want to grow.

To our surprise, the following year a mysterious bouquet of rosy, red tulips appeared next to the garage where Jeff dumped the weeds. We hadn#146;t realized there were any flower bulbs among the patch. In the midst of that major change, those hardy bulbs persevered and blossomed. Now, a few had survived again.

Two years ago, Jeff constructed a fence along the side of the garage where these flowers appeared. During the construction process, he trampled all over that spot where the flowers were planted. He dug up a bunch of dirt and piled more rocks there.

I thought for sure my precious tulips were gone, so I completely forgot about them. You can imagine how excited I was when I found these few blooms growing vibrant and healthy between the fence and the garage.

To me, this proves once again how we can stay strong and vibrant through the tough times of our lives.

Through thick and thin (it was thick rock piles, paint thinner and major transplants for these flowers), we can bloom where we#146;re planted.

Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, inspirational speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com.