Flower Garden

One day as I walked past my flower garden,
I thought I saw a little weed.
I stopped and stared down at it,
but just couldn't quite believe
that such a form of beauty
would be what my mind perceived. 

I sensed there may be something wrong,
but as I examined it,
it held its form and beauty.
So, what else could I do?
But rise and extend a pardon,
for it looked just like all the other flowers
in my flower garden. 

Day after day, it lay nestled in its bed snug and warm,
and everyday it still mimicked the other flowers' form.
And although I often looked at it, it never gave away,
that it was something other than what I saw that day.
But each day, I continued to give a trained and watchful eye,
to see if that flower should live or if that flower should die. 

And then one day when I went outside, something caught my eye,
I went to that same "flower" and bent down to find out why.
Its form was now quite different--it turned out to be a weed!
I was so glad I kept listening to that little voice that said to heed!
I snatched up that little weed, and instantly was able to see,
God had used my flower garden as life's analogy--
this is what happens to God's children when we have been misled,
we don't stop long enough to examine the lies we're fed! 

 

   The inspiration behind the writing of this poem actually came from the very scenario this poem describes.  In my very first home, there was a flower garden that used to lace the sidewalk to my front door.  One day, when I was walking pass these flowers, I saw what I thought was a smaller yellow flower growing amongst the other yellow flowers, and it caught my eye.  Something was just a little bit different about this "flower" than the others.  Though I couldn't readily identify what the real difference was, nevertheless, my spirit had been pricked.  So, I bent down to examine this "flower" with my fingers, but still, I couldn't see any real difference.  Each day though, the Holy Spirit kept nudging my heart that something was wrong.  I just couldn't see it, but I could sense it.  So everyday, I kept watching that "flower."  Days passed by and nothing happened, I thought.  But, just when I almost settled in my mind that perhaps, I was in error, I bent down to examine that "flower" one more time and discovered that it was actually a yellow weed!  An imposter!  You know I yanked that weed up real quick!  And, then I thought to myself, "This is exactly how the enemy of our soul infiltrates our lives today.  He masquerades as something or someone belonging in our lives to benefit and beautify our lives, when all the while that something or someone will devastate our lives." 

   In I Peter 5:8, we are warned, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (NAS).  This warning is real.  If we are not careful of how we walk before the Lord, we can become fair and open game to the enemy of our soul.

   Months after the incident with my flower garden, I attended a play at church one night . . . .