old flowers...

I've decided that, although I'm almost 40, I'm not much of a grownup when it comes to my spirituality. At what point do I stop praying for help, strength, and forgiveness, and start doing something about what Christ has given me. I'm not saying that it's not important for us to ask forgiveness and pray for wisdom and strength, but when do we realize that we have them and move on from these requests?

The other night at church, our youth minister told a story about bringing his wife roses for Valentines Day...how she responded to this gesture was very poignant; and I believe it is something that we should be listening for God to say to us.
When asked about whether or not she liked the flowers, she replied, "Josh, roses are what you gave me before you knew me..." Our minister went on to say that although she appreciated the sentiment, if he really knew her, in the way that she wants to be known by him, he would have given her an orchid.

I've been a christian for 27 years...and just about every day, I find myself praying the same prayer that I prayed back in sixth grade. What an eye opening experience it is for me to realize that...and the irony is that, I don't even like roses!

As a new believer, I think there are things that we are supposed to do to build a foundation and relationship with Christ...but how long can I keep giving him roses when what he really wants are orchids? And when will I be tired of roses myself? How long will I keep on asking for the superficial, shallow, earthly things that I think I need to make it through the day, when he has an eternal, deep, heavenly job for me to do? How long will I make the focus of my relationship with him all about me, and ignore the fact that he's called me to do more? How long will I deny the orchids of his love for the roses of my immaturity?

I think that at some point as Christians, we are supposed to realize that God values us and expects us to accept his gifts...his grace, his mercy, his love. He means what he says...period. Just like a child has to learn to walk on his own, at some point Christ wants us to accept the fact that we are forgiven, we are wise when we seek him, and we have more than enough strength, because he tells us it comes from him. It's time to seek out what he calls us to do...to BELIEVE what he says and listen to what comes next...to move on... to grow up...to do our best to give him orchids...and realize why he refuses to give us roses...