Bloom where you’re planted
For a long time, I had a Mary Engelbreit magnet where I would see it often: Bloom where you’re planted. Cute as ever, but at that time in my life, I wanted to do anything but.
I was at a job that I knew God had called me to, but it was a job I hated. There was a lot about that job that was out of my control, dealing with other people and their issues. And then there was the fact that I just wasn’t good at it… That, however, was within my ability to change.
For some reason, I knew I was in this awful job so that God could build some things (character) in me, and I stayed. Plus, when I would pray and ask Him if I could quit (which was nearly every day), He said no. So I stayed.
An amazing thing happened. As I worked my little tail off, God met me, and over time, made me love the job. Eventually, I got good at it, sweet people replaced many of the difficult, and eventually, God let me move on to another job. I was so glad to have left well than to have quit as a failure. Because I stuck it out, God did that.
When we were first married, we lived in a tiny apartment. I’m really more of a creative person, and don’t have the Cleaning Fanatic Gene in me. Nonetheless, tubs must be scrubbed. One day, while I was scrubbing said tub, I lightheartedly made a deal with God. It went like this:
God, our apartment is tiny and funky, but it’s ours. You gave it to us, it’s our home, and I love it. I’m going to scrub and clean it the best I can, even though it’s little. And someday, maybe you’ll put me in a house to scrub and clean.
I was pretty shocked when, about four years later, God put us into a house.
I’m revisiting these stories as much to inspire myself as anyone who might be reading. There are parts of my life that aren’t where I’d like to be planted, and I need to recognize that so I can get working on my blooms.
Need more inspiration? Read about Joseph in the prison, David in the caves, Paul in whatever disaster you can imagine…
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