Holy Flowers, Batman!...um...Cheryl!!

I'm up early this morning. Actually, that's pretty much the "norm" on the weekends. Even when I was a little girl, I was usually the first one up in the morning. (I discovered it was a great time to sneak into the cookie jar!) This morning, the rest of my family is snoozing away. The dogs have been fed, I have a cup of coffee close by and I am enjoying the quiet and calm of the house. This is one of my favorite times of the day. And, I have to admit, I'm excited at the thought of having the computer to myself without interruptions! I woke up thinking about "blogging"--so I think it is official--I'm hooked. I love this blogging adventure! Thank you for all your kind, welcoming comments!

Yesterday, I visited my friend Terri whose mother just passed away. I was there in an official capacity, but also as a friend. You see, officially, I was the florist delivering "sympathy" flowers to her from her church family. (I provide flowers and plants for our church for bereavements, memorial services and hospital visitations.) But as a friend, I was there to grieve with her and hug her.

I'm a floral designer by trade. I have worked as a lead designer in several shops throughout the years, but currently am on my own and have my own business. I don't have a store front, but so far the kitchen and dining room tables have been working just fine. I was drawn to arranging flowers my senior year in high school. That's when I had a part-time job doing office work at the flower shop across the street from the school. After graduating from college, I re-kindled my interest in flowers, went to floral design school...and the rest is history.

As a floral designer I have had the opportunity to share with some their greatest joys: the births of babies, their weddings, celebration of great accomplishments; and their greatest sorrows: the death of a loved one, a miscarriage, the loss of jobs or other opportunities, etc. There have been times that I have been in tears as a family is trying to select just the perfect casket piece for their deceased wife and mother; or the time a grandmother-to-be came into the shop after learning her first grandchild was stillborn, searching for just the right flower arrangement to convey her love and grief to her daughter.

From time to time, I struggle with the idea that being a floral designer is rather "fluff" work-- Nothing too "spiritual" about taking some flowers and plopping them in a vase (okay, there IS more to it than that!) Or, my self-talk might go something like this: 'What is radical and earth shaking about delivering flowers? Why can't I be one of those movers and shakers? No...I'm just a posey-pusher'.

But yesterday I was convicted, once again, about my attitude regarding being a florist. As I drove away from Terri's house I was overwhelmed with the sense that we had just had a very "spiritual" moment. God was present. We talked about His faithfulness, His goodness and how in our sorrow He is very near and present. I felt so blessed by being with Terri, sharing in her grief, being the one "chosen" to convey the love of her church family and the love that God has for her. What an honor and privilege.

Bottom line, what I'm learning (slowly) is that everything and anything we do can be used by Him and can be "spiritual" if we surrender it to him. Hhhmmmm... There seems to be scripture about that! Colossians 3:17, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

I'm so thankful that the One who created me, with a creative bent, can use that for His glory--in ways I don't even know--and in turn I am blessed. How does He do that?

Lord, thank you for knowing me so intimately and giving me this drive to create and share that with others. I pray that you will always be glorified and honored and that others will see you through the beauty of your flowers and the flower delivery person!