Lamb’s Ear – Thayerapy Gardens
I like keeping Lamb’s Ear in my gardens. Some consider it a weed, perhaps because it is rather prolific. But to me it’s a thing of beauty and soft to touch. It’s not edible like some of the other, less attractive weeds in the garden. For example, Purslane and Lamb’s Quarter have a quite sweet spinach-like taste when rinsed and boiled (and soaked in butter :-). But they don’t possess the beauty of the Lamb’s Ear. More over, Lamb’s Ear contains a God-given astringent substance that slows the bleeding of a wound. Its abundant and soft petals provide an adequate bandage if none other is available. Not bad for a common weed!
I’m guessing we all could name a few ‘weeds’ in our ‘human garden’ of friends and acquaintances…and likely be named one as well. And yet, like the common Lamb’s Ear flower, we are each created for a purpose with a different sort of beauty than the other flowers (and weeds) that surround us. Rather than trying to be like someone else, try to ‘bloom where you are planted‘ today.
To bloom means to be the person you were uniquely created to be. It is not just what you do, but the expression of God-in-you to those around. Don’t worry if others look more beautiful than you. Just bloom as you were created to be. Where you are is not some special place reserved for ‘ministry.’ You bloom wherever you happen to be at the time. It’s wherever you live and breathe and have your being. Blooming is an expression of life and praise and thankfulness. Don’t reserve it for special occasions. Planted implies there is an intentionality and purpose about your life. Sometimes you find yourself transplanted to a new city, neighborhood, job, or even a place of temporary isolation. As a flower stands firmly, bending with, not against the wind, plant yourself firmly and let your spiritual roots dig deep to bring nourishment to your soul right where you are planted.
Rejoice in the God-given characteristics only you uniquely possess and slow down enough to recognize these in others around you, even if they do at first seem a bit weedy. Be useful to others and give God the glory for everything good that blooms in your community of relationships today.
Bloom where you are planted.
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:4-7
