Cacti are not my favorite plants. I also don’t particularly like the fact that cacti is the plural of cactus. I wanted to say cactuses. But that’s neither here nor there. Though I was born in Arizona and therefore must have a smidge of desert in my blood, I find cacti more obtrusive than inviting, more awkward than beautiful. I don’t like it when they grow monstrously large and take over an entire yard. And more than once I’ve had to remove painful spines from a child’s hand. I love me some plants and I’m plenty outdoorsy, but a cactus? Not the kind of plant I would ever choose.
Yesterday on my morning walk I passed by a nondescript house with lackluster landscaping, which I have passed by probably one hundred times before. But this time, something caught the corner of my eye. There, protruding out of a bulky cactus was the most delicate white flower. I had to stop and strain my neck to peer around the backside of the formidable plant and fully take in the impressive blossom. Creamy white petals splayed open creating a deep center boasting of intricate light-yellow filaments.
This flower was the only one on a whole cluster of dull cacti. I had never seen anything like it. The protruding bloom wasn’t just an unexpected visual feast for me, it was also a beacon of delight for a handful of bees. The buzzing creatures happily hovered over anthers heavy with yellow pollen, zipping in and out of the cavernous center.
In that moment I was reminded again that beauty can, in fact, be found anywhere – even in a cactus.
As I continued on my walk, I kept thinking about the ugly cacti (ugly in my humble opinion; you’re welcome to disagree) and its one beautiful blossom. And it reminded me of the fact that so often in life, goodness sprouts up from things we would never choose.
I would never have chosen Generalized Anxiety Disorder, but this mental illness has allowed God’s comfort and compassion — and in turn my empathy for others — to bloom in the most life-giving ways.
I would never have chosen for my son to have a visual processing disorder which, several years ago, led us to an educational crossroads where we made the decision to hold him back in school. But that hard circumstance led to God’s protection and provision in so many beautiful ways.
I would never have chosen to be long-term renters instead of homeowners. But despite the fact that our name is not on the house title, we’ve made our current address home for almost a decade. We’ve experienced the wild beauty of opening these rented doors, adding chairs to our table and pillows to the floor, and sharing with others the gift God has entrusted to our care.
Gorgeous flowers that could only bloom from cacti – blessings reaped from un-favorite things we didn’t know we needed.
Think back on your own life and the circumstances you would never choose . . . can you see the beauty? Can you see the goodness that came from that job you didn’t get or that relationship that started out on a rocky foot? Can you see the blessing that sprouted from that difficult diagnosis, cross-country move, or brutal season in parenting?
We serve a God who is in the lifelong business of turning ashes into beauty, weakness into strength, and death into life!
Indeed, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 CSB).
While Scripture is irrevocably true, we can still admit that recognizing the beauty of God’s goodness, kindness, compassion, provision, or grace in our lives does not erase the proverbial cactus spines. Life is still prickly and hard and there will surely be parts we would never choose and would rather avoid.
And guess what? That’s okay.
Cacti are still not my favorite plant, but I can appreciate their potential to produce something beautiful.
May we hold open hands and open hearts to the same potential in all our ugly, uncomfortable, or unfavorite life circumstances today. Beauty may be just around the corner in the place you’d least expect.
For more encouragement on how to see the daily beauty of God’s fingerprints in the midst of life’s prickly and painful moments, follow Becky on Instagram!
So true. Thaank you.
I’m glad this was meaningful for you, Sandra!
So true. Thank you.
Becky God didn’t tell us to like everything thing not to hate it. We have to learn to love it. No matter what it is no matter if someone else likes it we don’t. Like you can the Cacti plants. We have to remember God made them all. God made us. There will be things and people we will not get on with or like. Like you and your Cacti plants. Me it spiders. No matter if they are fat or thin I just don’t like them. I get my Husband to put them outside of they come into our home. But they are all beautiful like we all are in God’s eyes. We have heard people say as I have in the past look at how ugly she or he is. We that are saved are too love them like Jesus does. They could be our Sister or Brother in the Lord we are talking about. Jesus should me once. He said Dawn how would you like me to say that about you. Not tell you I love you. Then start to pick the people in the world I going to love. Not love you for different reasons. Because you I don’t like for some reason. Because you don’t like the spider. I would never do that. So even though I don’t like spiders. You Becky don’t like Catci. Jesus still loves you. We are as his followers still to love all that God has made. All plants and animals humans and insects no matter what. Like Jesus does. That’s why I never kill a spider get my Husband to put it outside if inside my house. The Father’s Love Letter tell me how much I am loved by my Heavenly Father. You get on YouTube. Worth listening to. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little love today’s reading. Xx
We are loved and known and held by God. Yes! That’s the most important perspective to remember. Thanks for being here, Dawn.
Great perspective, Becky. I think I know exactly where to apply this thought process!
That makes me so happy, Madeline!
Reading this post this morning is an encouragement for me and want to thank you for it. God is awesome and He fine tunes our lives in so many beautiful ways! I am facing some hard things on the horizon in coming days. I scheduled some necessary surgery yesterday and am looking at a change in my home that will impact financial provisions that are currently in place. Thank you and God bless!
Praying for you now, Patty! I’m so grateful that the God who holds the world together holds us too. Surely He is with you in every hard moment and changing thing. Lean in, sister.
I was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at 11. A cruel blow to a young girl with a love for baking & eating desserts. I weathered the literal ups & downs of blood sugar levels through puberty & less than balanced diets of college years. Fast forward to life in my 50s & now 60s I am told by a college buddy that his level of anxiety at his daughter’s diagnosis of diabetes was not as high because he knew what my life with diabetes had looked like. And again for himself with his own type 2 diagnosis a few years ago. “If Ruth can do this so can I”. Last summer 1 of my 3rd grade Sunday school students was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. He & I compare where we’re wearing our sensors. I’ve even started wearing my sensor on my bicep so it’s a more visible encouragement to him. You really never know what God may turn to beauty from our ‘rather-nots” in life. Only a redeeming, loving God for sure! Blessings! (((0)))
Ruth, what a blessing you are!
Yes my Sisters and Brothers in Christ, life is certainly prickly at times. I didn’t know about cacti growing up in the South of the United States (Gluckstadt, MS until 4 years old and Jackson, MS until I was married at age 21). Now I just embrace each day and thank God for His Grace and Mercy and how His Holy Spirit teaches me Truth from day to day.
It’s not easy to explain “prickly” to anyone unless you have experienced that adjective. Becoming a wife and mother can certainly give one that experience. Smile. When you think life is easy at age 16, you are in for reality at age 61. Life is not a sprint but a never ending marathon of making decisions, forgiveness and putting your priorities in perspective with God keeping the 1st Place always if you are a Believer. Young people are not ready for rearranging their priorities unless someone has taught them this position of the “heart” and becoming selfless.
Thank You Lord for loving me while I was still missing the mark of the call of Christ Jesus in my life. I’m still on my Marathon Journey and I will need Your Help today as I Pray for My Children.
With Gratitude,
Brenda
A Child of God
I appreciate your words, Brenda! Thanks for being here.
I am always blown away by God’s timing! I broke my leg a month ago and I am not the kind of gal that stays in bed, resting! Your devotion today has so encouraged me Becky! Thank you for writing it and following God’s nudging.
Terry, your comment is such a blessing to me! (And so sorry about your leg. Ugh. Not fun. Prayers for a quick and full recovery!)
Greetings! Very interesting about your cactus comments! I usually don’t reply to these wonderful “words”, but the cactus one caught my eye!. We only lived in Tucson for a couple of yrs. ,but especially the SAGUARO CACTUS was a plant that I so enjoyed.!!!They don’t develop arms until they are about 70 and they also have beautiful blooms in the Spring AND provide homes and “food” for many of God’s creatures!. So, I guess God had a “plan” for everything in his creation ! You never know what kind of “lesson” God is teaching us! Many prayers for a healthy family and a lovely life Becky…… Louise
SO appreciated this! I can relate to much of what you said! We’ve lamented being renters for an entire decade too, and yet, God’s watched our babies grow in this home. That’s worthy of praise.
Your devotional reminds me of my visit to The Alamo where, in the middle of the courtyard, was a cactus blooming with the prettiest yellow flowers. I had to take a photo and it’s still my favorite one from my trip. I can also look back and see beauty in bloom despite difficult circumstances.
I wasn’t expecting a breast cancer diagnosis immediately after a worldwide pandemic, but God saw me through a year of treatments and I am healed and cancer-free. Even though it was a tough journey, I knew God was near and I grew closer to Him. Finding beauty in each day, no matter how small, was an essential part of my healing process. It’s a practice that I continue each day, even when I’m not having the best day.
Becky,
I personally did not want both my parents to have severe dementia. My dad had to go into geriatric psych hospital twice. Through those tough circumstances I learned empathy, & grew my faith & trust muscles. It has served me well in the job I have now dealing with ICU patients & their families. I can relate so well to what they are going through. Great devotion!
Blessings 🙂