I have a Kalanchoe plant that I have had for years.  It usually sits on my front porch, and it blooms continuously.  Without much water. Without any care. This plant just keeps blooming.

Recently, I felt guilty about neglecting it and decided that it needed to be repotted.  The leaves and stems didn’t look so good even though it was still full of flowers.  So, in my unique way of repotting plants, I dumped it, put fresh soil in the pot, and replanted the main stem.

Several smaller stems separated from the plant during this process.  With my granddaughter’s help, we began sticking them (I know those of you who are real gardeners are probably cringing at this) in other pots. That was about a week ago.

I checked on the stems today.  You know what I found? They are all living.  Many of them already have new growth on them.  I bet I will have more flowers in a few weeks.

This sort of reminds me of Paul’s comment in Philippians 4:11-12.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Paul had just spoken of the support that the Philippian church had shown to him during his imprisonment.  While he rejoiced to be cared for by them, he never forgot that his strength came directly from God.  He states this in verse 13.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

Like my Kalanchoe, Paul knew how to flourish even when conditions were not optimal.  In the old saying from the 70s, he knew how to bloom where he was planted.

I have to say that I am not crazy about the quarantine we are enduring, but for right now it is where I am planted.  The good news is that Christ can keep me through this time AND allow me to flourish and bloom even though I may not like the pot (circumstances) in which I am lodged.

I pray that we see Christians blooming profusely all over this world throughout this crisis.  We can do it in Christ’s strength.  He said so.

 

I Timothy 6: ⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Photo by pinecrestgardenguy