I love Longwood Gardens— seeing how dahlias are really supposed to grow (instead of how they struggle in my garden), sitting on my favorite benches, strolling the less traveled places, and hearing from my Savior.
On this particular visit, I stumbled on a habitat I hadn’t seen before and paused on a footbridge to soak it in. It was wild and natural and beautiful. There were flashes of color, life in the little stream, and overflowing plants and flowers.
As I lingered, I began to notice imperfections—a dying flower drooping in the water, a browning stalk of something I couldn’t identify, a broken this or that. What a mess! This is Longwood Gardens! How is this all so neglected? Their job is to make nature look spectacular and give us hope that we can one day grow things that will live and thrive. How did this little habitat fly under the radar?
Then I heard a still, small voice. Hint: It wasn’t the Longwood guy with the weeding bucket.
I heard the still, small voice of God say, “This is how you are seeing one of your children right now. Why are you so focused on these small imperfections, Gina? You were just noticing the beauty I created for purposes you cannot possibly comprehend. These imperfections add to the beauty of the whole, they do not diminish it. Lift your eyes from what you think needs to be fixed and appreciate and love what I have done.
“Your child is in a season of great transformation. I have made this child for my purposes, not yours, to bring me glory, not you. The imperfections you see are not unnoticed by me. I am tending them—in my timing, in my way, to look exactly as I wish in order for this child to accomplish all I have ordained. Lift your eyes! See the beautiful person I have fashioned. See them as a whole, not in parts. Be faithful. Hold out Christ! Appreciate with wonder and love the miraculous life I have created.”
I left Longwood Gardens that day changed. I repented of the critical spirit that was trying to “fix” my child. Faith for God’s process was refreshed. Hope for their future was renewed. Joy bubbled up from the strength that God would provide.
Who is that person in your life whom you find it difficult to view beyond their weaknesses? How does God want you to see them? None of us wants to be seen through our weaknesses, but rather for who we are as a whole.
Amy Carmichael said, “If I belittle those whom I am called to serve, talk of their weak points in contrast perhaps with what I think of as my strong points; if I adopt a superior attitude, forgetting ‘who maketh thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou hast not received?’ then I know nothing of Calvary love.”
Let us look with compassion, graciousness, and Calvary love on those the Lord, in his perfect sovereignty and loving care, has placed in our lives. As we once again surrender our desires, he will grow our hearts for those he has made in his image, for his purposes, to bring him glory. Surely, we want others to do the same for us.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
