“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”–1 Peter 1:24-25 (NIV)

            Working in my flowerbeds brings me pleasure. Not only do I like getting my hands dirty in the soil, I like the reward that comes from my effort. When bushes grow, seeds sprout and flowers bloom, I see the results of my hard work. The benefits of their beauty are a bonus.

Last spring, I purchased a packet of Morning Glory seeds at a local dollar store. I had never had any luck growing this very fast-growing annual vine known for its trumpet-shaped flowers, which come in blue, pink, purple, scarlet, white and multicolored blooms, attracting hummingbirds, bees, ladybugs and butterflies.

Blooms open in the cool of the morning, hence, the name Morning Glory. During the fall, flowers open all day. They usually bloom from summer until fall frost. My Morning Glory plant grew fast, covering my brick mailbox with its profuse vine. However, I was disappointed when it didn’t bloom this summer. I had watered it, fertilized it and waited for the flowers to appear. Several neighbors had also planted seeds next to their mailboxes.  While out walking my dog each day, I enjoyed the flowers growing abundantly on their vines.

According to the information I had read about this flower, the vines die with a winter frost but will reseed themselves each year. However, my vine had not produced any flowers. Although I had only spent a buck plus tax for the packet of seeds, I had looked forward to seeing its blooms. The morning after our first heavy frost in mid-October, I went out to retrieve my mail. I was amazed when I noticed several buds on the vines not destroyed by the frost.

Excited about my discovery, I immediately called a neighbor with whom I had lamented about my bloomless vine. Like me, she couldn’t believe the vine had bloomed after a frost. In this instance, seeing is believing.

Each morning, I admire the flowers that now open daily to greet the sun as well as me when I visit my mailbox. Viewing their purple flowers is a reminder to me that God never gives up on us, even if we turn away from Him.

Revisit the Bible stories to see how many times God was disappointed by humanity’s behavior. Men and women turned away from Him repeatedly and continued to sin. When God chose Noah to build the ark, then flooded the earth, destroying the rest of the world’s inhabitants, He also made a promise in the form of a rainbow as a reminder that He would never do it again.

When Abraham and Sarah grew impatient after God promised them a son, they took things into their own hands. Abraham had a son by his wife’s servant. God could have changed His mind after this disobedience. However, He didn’t.

Just as my late-blooming flowers bring hope, so does God’s Word. It endures forever.