Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
Luke 12:27
Read Luke 12:22-31

Now you see them; now you don’t! That is what I first thought as I became acquainted with this beautiful little flower. In the horticultural world you might call these “Grace Flowers.” They are called Fairy Lilies, Magical Lilies, or Rain Lilies, as they seemingly miraculously spring up and blossom after rain showers. They are delicate tulip-shaped flowers that emerge from tall slender leaves. The flowers are light to dark pink with a burgundy throat. I suppose one reason I like them is they remind me of tulips, but unlike tulips they grow outside in Florida. I first noticed them growing and blooming on the church grounds.

I love flowers and marvel at the beauty of them. Years ago I officiated at a May wedding in Virginia. Louise, the mother of the bride, was a Garden Club member and she was concerned that a number of flowers would not be available at that time of the year. Estelle, her good friend, was another Garden Club member and a marvelous floral arranger. They went to people’s yards and harvested buckets of wildflowers and greenery to mix with the flowers ordered from florists. The church was adorned with wonderful cascading arrangements of flowers that looked as if one had gone out into an English garden, cut them and then placed these in vases. Mary and Tim’s wedding was one I will always remember as being especially beautiful and one reason is because of the flowers.

Just the other day I was looking through photographs I had taken of floral arrangements… a number of them designed by Peggy Davis. I have admired her skill in creating floral arrangements. I have appreciated the variety of flowers she has used… and the colors, shapes, and textures of the flowers. They are things of beauty and just so they last and bring joy to me (if not forever, but at least for a long time) I have photographed many of them.

The poet Joyce Kilmer wrote, “only God can make a tree.” I would add that only God can make flowers and they are truly more spectacular than King Solomon attired in all of his glory. While the primary message of this section is to trust in God to care and provide for our needs without worrying, I believe a secondary one is “to stop and smell the roses” or “to stop and admire the beauty of all flowers.” “Consider the Rain Lilies!”

Prayer

Creator God, we thank You for all of the vast variety of flowers in the world. Open our eyes to their beauty. Slow us down so that we may meditate on Your grace and glory. As surely as You have made them and provide for their growth and flowering, so You care and provide for us. Thank You, Lord. Amen.