I remember being about five years old when I first discovered my love for flowers. I would wander into our backyard, captivated by the bursts of color that painted the grass – tiny wildflowers of every shade, shape, and size. I’d gather them in my small hands, carefully counting each kind and proudly showing my mother my “collection.”
Both of my grandmothers were gardeners too. Their yards were alive with hibiscuses, ginger lilies, and blooms that swayed gently in the breeze. Oh, how I couldn’t wait to explore their gardens! The fragrance, the colors, the beauty – all of it stirred something deep inside me. Each new flower I discovered sparked awe and wonder in my heart. I loved to draw them, study them, and even observe the butterflies that danced among them. Nature was my quiet joy – my way of discovering God’s artistry in the simplest things.
The Cares of Life
But as time passed, that innocent wonder began to fade. Life got busy – education, responsibilities, career, finances, family. The things that once made my heart sing were pushed aside by the “grown-up” world.
One evening in early 2020, while commuting home from work, weary and worn from the demands of life, I looked out the window and noticed some beautiful flowers in a stranger’s yard. But this time, something was different. I didn’t feel that familiar spark – the joy I once had was gone.
Quietly, I whispered to the Lord,
“When I look at those flowers, it doesn’t stir my heart like it used to. What happened to me, Lord? Have I lost it? Please... stir my heart again.”
That was my prayer – a simple, honest cry for restoration.
The Lord’s Gentle Reminder
Fast forward to May 2022. One morning, as I gazed out my window, I noticed how tall the grass had grown in my backyard. But as I looked closer, I saw something hidden among the blades – tiny wildflowers of many kinds. Some were so small you could easily overlook them. Others might have been considered “weeds,” unworthy of attention. Yet together, they painted the ground with color.
Curious, I decided to go outside. With scissors in hand, I began collecting each flower, one by one, placing them gently on a Styrofoam plate. As I did, something stirred within me – the same feeling I had as a child. That forgotten joy, that quiet awe – it all came rushing back.
It was as if the Lord whispered,
“See? I never stopped placing beauty before you. You just stopped noticing.”
The Lesson of the Flowers
That moment reminded me how easily we let the cares of life crowd out what once brought us joy – and even more importantly, how easily we can drift from our first love: the Lord Himself.
Maybe you’ve felt it too. You go through the motions – praying, serving, showing up – but your heart feels distant, tired, unmoved. The passion you once had when you first met Jesus feels like a faint memory.
But He hasn’t changed. His love for you is still as fresh and vibrant as the first time you felt it.
The Lord invites us to return – to rekindle that love, to rediscover the wonder of His presence. He reminds us that ministry should never replace intimacy, and that the busyness of life should never drown out the quiet joy of simply being with Him.
So pause. Remember. Let the Lord awaken your heart again. Ask Him to rekindle your fire, and He will. The same God who paints beauty into forgotten corners of your backyard can breathe life into forgotten places of your soul.
“Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
Don’t abandon your first love. Return to it – and you’ll find that He never left you at all.
Author: Kimberly A.S. Williams
