Paeonia officinalis

That is the scientific name for a favorite of mine... the peony. As a child I remember looking forward to their big heavy blooms. It was fascinating watching the black ants scurry over them chewing away at the green hard bud. And such small buds compared to the large flower that burst forth.
They are forefront in my mind today because as I was going through my hard drive in attempt to clean out all the unnecessary stuff , I came across some pictures I had taken of the peonies in our backyard.
I am drawn to them for so many reasons. The smell is incredible. At the height of their blooming season I can sit on the bench that Robert placed near them and I am enveloped. Better than any Calgon moment I have ever had.
The blooms are beautiful. So big are the blooms of this particular peony bush that I need both hands to cup them.
I feel a kinship with this flower. Starting out in the spring with fresh shoots. Something seemingly out of nothing. But it is when the buds appear that the connection grows strong. Our life in Christ starts out so small --you can hardly see the color that the flower is destined to show forth. Time continues and the buds receive nourishment from the roots and the light of the sun. Oh, it seems to take so long for those blooms to come forth. I try not to get impatient. But the floral fireworks begin, beautiful, colorful, fragrant.
I have been that hard little bud, wanting so much to be more, to get rid of all that was holding me in, constraining me. I did not realize that I needed time. Time to be nourished, to receive the healing power of the sun. The day came when I began to feel movement, slowly stretching out, unfolding, becoming who God created me to be, until one day I realized I am open, free, moving gracefully in the breeze releasing the fragrance that He has given me. And then I notice Him, my Father reaching down, cupping me in His hand and smiling.