Bloom

The flowers on the cacti in front of our local super center budded not too long ago. Their soft, yellow blossoms lasted for nearly a month, crowning the hardy succulents with beauty for a short while.

When we moved here over three years ago, their blooms that spring left me feeling mesmerized. There was something about these blossoms that felt therapeutic, as if some healing balm was slowly pouring over me each time I passed them by. That season, I drove past them a little slower, taking in the sight of such delicate beauties and somehow trying to understand the mystery as to why such a simple sight could minister to my soul. It was a secret that I sensed God was whispering into my heart. However, much like a gift, the mystery had yet to be unwrapped and made known.

The last few years, I’ve continued to drive by these cacti when in full bloom and to consider the mystery, although not as urgently, as to why my heart resonates with such a scene so much. And as time has gone by, the mystery has started to unravel a little more.

The truth is, I relate to these cacti in some ways. Although I would not characterize the life of my family and me as hard by any means, we’ve experienced several trials over the years. In 2019, our lives were plagued by illness only to be confronted by a pandemic at the end of our own personal health problems. Then, after a year of reprieve, 2022 hit us head on with incredible heartache, and additional hardships only continued to follow all throughout that year.

In the midst of heartbreak, the sight of those happy, yellow blooms upon first moving here felt like a gentle breeze to me in the midst of blistering heat. They filled my heart with a sense of hope. And as they did, I would later come to consider how, even though the cactus is made to endure the harsh elements of scorching sunlight and drought, they are still granted their own season to bloom. The hardships of life do not take that away from them. They bloom, and they continue to be granted that season to thrive every year. Although for a short while, their soft, cheerful blossoms inspire a sense of wonder and appreciation for their beauty year after year.

As I admired the blossoms on the cactus more recently, I couldn’t help but think about how different our lives are since I first saw those tiny, golden flowers. Our family grew a little over two years ago as we welcomed a second son into our lives, and throughout this time, we’ve enjoyed watching him develop and grow. We’ve also seen our oldest son growing and beginning to bloom over the past year in ways we could only have wistfully wished for several years ago. Furthermore, God has been giving my husband wonderful opportunities in his career, and He has been giving me a sense of purpose in writing in this season as well.

 After enduring our own harsh “conditions” for several years, He has given us a season to bloom, and it has been beautiful.

Regardless, I hope to keep the image of those blooming cacti in my mind, especially as we face hardships again at some point in our lives—and to remember that, even a plant that is made to dwell in harsh climates is granted its own season to bloom. And I’ll trust that, like the cactus, God will grant my family and me different seasons in which to bloom as well.

He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11a