He Never Promised Us a Rose Garden

After moving from Altamonte Springs (Orlando area), to our amazement, this orchid decided to bloom so prolifically that I felt it must be time to divide it into several smaller versions of the same "beauty." However, I have not yet seen one new blossom from my endeavor. I admit I have a "brown thumb" rather than a "green" one. I'd been told that orchids REALLY are easy to grow.

Well, back in Altamonte, hanging under a Lagustrum tree, this beauty WAS easy to grow. However, I'm finding that in spite of the seemingly small distance we've moved...south...it has changed the responsiveness of these easy-to-grow plants.

Maybe my frustration lies in a more important and well-known characteristic of mine....lack of patience! You do understand, when I'm writing these 'little' stories...there's usually a 'moral' to the story! In this case, it's a confession that I can easily become confused and frustrated!

Recently, due to a horrible accident on I-75, traffic had to be rerouted for about 5 days and the detour caused major delays for people who had to travel that route. Thankfully, things were improved in short-order due to around-the-clock work crews who placed a crossover for south-bound travelers to use one-half of the north bound lanes.

After going to Tampa yesterday for the initial preview service of The Connection Point, the way back seemed VERY LONG and SLOW! Actually, we only drove 7 miles further than going up...which was not delayed at all, but the 45 minutes it added, time wise seemed VERY LONG indeed.

The book of James says, "My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need. But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you. But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt."

Well, I guess I will have to be PATIENT not only about growing orchids, but about moving to Tampa. God is faithful and says, "Acknowledge me in all your ways, and I will direct your steps." Stepping out in faith to move from our beautiful condo, where even without blooming orchids, I can watch nature and be inspired, isn't something I "planned" on, but I trust the Lord to lead us. James says, "Some of you say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to some city. We will stay there a year, do business, and make money." But you do not know what will happen tomorrow! Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away. So you SHOULD say, "If the Lord wants, we will live and do this or that." But now you are proud and you brag. All of this bragging is wrong. Anyone who knows the right thing to do, but does not do it, is sinning(Jas 4:13-17).

We will have to continue to pray and trust the Lord to lead us...trusting he will set before us an open door....or if not, then we will "bloom" where we're planted! Either way...GOD IS GOOD!!!