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SUNFLOWERS

JEREMIAH 29:11

“FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD. PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU. PLANS TO GIVE YOU A HOPE AND A FUTURE”.

Our family has been growing sunflowers on our farm for many years. We have enjoyed watching them from the time the seeds are planted in the ground until they bloom and then dry down. We enjoy watching the birds come and feed on the dry seeds. Sunflowers are very interesting flowers. They follow the path of the sun across the sky from east to west beginning when the buds are first formed. The stems right at the bottom of the blooms is very flexible and allows the head of the flowers to move and follow the sun. As the flowers mature the stems harden and become firm to support the weight of the large heads of the sunflowers. The flowers no longer follow the path of the sun but stays turned toward the eastern sky.

God has shown me that we are a lot like sunflowers. As young Christians as we learn to follow the Son we are constantly learning and growing. We are not exactly sure about who God is or His call on our lives. We are searching and trying to follow Him. Sometimes we feel afraid He might leave us if we don’t do things exactly right. As we mature, we become more focused and stronger in our faith. We know that He promises to never leave us nor forsake us and that He will make our path straight. It’s then that our gaze becomes fixed on the eastern sky as we hold to His promises.

The first year we grew the sunflowers they were beautiful. We even had a family portrait made in the middle of the field. They had a short season though because a hurricane came through and soaked them. The heads of the sunflowers became so heavy the stems couldn’t support the flowers. It was sad to see the heads so weighted down they could not face the sun any longer. Another year we had just the opposite problem. A drought had the same effect on them. Due to the lack of water the heads began to droop, and they dried down faster.

God showed me that the sunflowers are no different than we are. Life’s storms sometimes cause us to take our eyes off the Son. Storms, like death, divorce, drug and alcohol abuse or the loss of a job can weigh us down. These things make us feel hopeless. Our hearts become heavy, and we can’t hold our heads up. The dry seasons in life when God seems to be quiet can also cause our heads to droop. It’s during these times that we need someone to walk beside us and help us to lift our heads. God put a passion in my heart to walk beside children and youth that have experienced some of these storms and help point them to the Son. To help them see that God has a plan for their lives. He has a plan to prosper them and not to harm them, to give them a hope and a future. Isn’t that just like God? The thing that most excites me and gets my motor running (the plans he has for me…my hope and my future) is to help children and youth find their hope and their future in Jesus! WOW! WHAT A SAVIOR!!!!

Susan Whiddon

Founder/President
Titus Ranch, Inc.