Yesterday was my 1st official day to be outside, preparing for spring: pruning, planting, fertilizing, and caring for my plants.
It took most of the day and I was dirty and satisfied at the end. I am sure many of you enjoy this type of day and can relate!
This afternoon, I was able to spend a few minutes enjoying ‘the fruit’ of my labor, admiring the plants and telling them, ‘Thank you’ for their steadfastness over the ‘winter’ and being patient with me even when I don’t handle them perfectly, they continue to grow and even endure my shortcomings as a gardener.
Truthfully, I believe God has given us the ability to dialogue with the plants/foliage that we see/care for and acknowledge. It is a special language that God allows us to have with His creation… if you know, you know.
This particular plant selection in the video attached, small as it is, is one of my favorites. Maybe because of how it was established and how it came to be and how it is enduring…
Let me explain…
The succulent with tiny red, star shaped flowers, officially called a ‘Florist Kalanchoe’ or ‘Flaming Katy’, came from a broken stem of a ‘parent’ plant my Daddy gave me as a gift years ago.
A broken stem that I easily could have thrown away; however, I chose to salvage it and gave it a home in the small pot where it’s living now.
I told the ‘stem’ if it could get established here it would have a home.
Side Note: The 'parent' plant has lived inside and while the leaves have remained green and thick it has never produced these pretty red flowers.
At some point last year, I noticed new growth in the pot from a different plant...
This flowering plant, a Plumed Celosia, was currently growing in my yard, but was not close to this pot.
So, whether an animal or the wind brought this seed to the planter, I will never know; however, they continued growing together in this small pot- one not taking over the other.
Interestingly, my research shows they should not be able to thrive this well together since they require different watering, shade vs sun, etc.…
It dawned on me as I sat quietly admiring it this afternoon, that possibly, as roommates, they are ‘provoking and encouraging each other’ to endure and produce fruit…
And as you can see in the video, not just for me.; but also, for other creation to flourish from, just like this bee! As this bee left, a smaller bee also joined the flowers and our time together.
Welcoming both bees, I said hello and thanked them for visiting our back porch. I do believe they can hear us… all of His creation can hear us!
Now, the Celosia plants that grew in the backyard grew tall and produced thick, vibrant flowers… while this sweet plant has stayed dainty yet still bold in color and beauty.
Is it just me? Doesn’t it seem that they are a ‘complement’ to one another, supporting each other, even though they are so very different and from different species?
I must point out again; this beautiful red flowering section is the only section that has ever bloomed...from the original parent inside.
Maybe the succulent is blooming because it has a blooming partner/neighbor that encourages it...
Maybe they are encouraging each other to ‘Stand Firm’ where they are planted and to support each other's growth and reflect each other's beauty!
It reminds me of how I desire to please my Father- my Creator- my Saviour, Jesus, when I feel His TLC encircling me... how I want to produce fruit and encourage those around me to love and good works (In and for Him).
This ‘Minutes with Monica’ brings me back around to some of my favorite verses that God brought to my attention back in 2020…
Hebrews 10:23-25
23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful.
[24] And let us consider one another one another in order to provoke love and good works,
[25] not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see THE DAY approaching.
What can we learn from these incredible plants and how they seem to be caring for each other?
If these two plants can live and thrive together, being so opposite, wouldn’t it make sense that we should and can do likewise with one another?
Let’s see what Jesus says… because it’s always best to find His answers to our questions.
The Greatest Commandment…
Mark 12
28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He.
33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
Thanks for allowing me a part of your day.. to share Minutes with you!
I don’t take it for granted and pray these thoughts provoke you to love and good works that our Father has created in you and for you… because at the end of the day, if we are doing His Will for our lives, we will be living radiantly and be satisfied!
Live Radiantly today, friends!
Monica
Ps… I greatly appreciate all of my subscribers… It is a honor to share my thoughts, prayers and ideas with you!
Those of you that support my time with monthly/yearly PAID subscriptions, thank you from the bottom of my heart!! It is never taken for granted.
With that said, it has been brought to my attention that some of you might enjoy supporting from time to time without a ‘monthly’ obligation so in case that is YOU, here is a $10 PayPal direct link to do so.
Support Stand Firm
Anddd.. the funds will be directed to help finish my new E-book/program project:
‘Stand Firm’-Strengthening both Physical and Spiritual Muscle in 7 Days
“A Strengthening & Conditioning approach to restoring the PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL postural muscles you were BORN with.”
LAUNCHING 2026!
