Earlier this year in the spring my mom and I took a mini road trip up to a small town in Texas to see the “Texas Tulips.” Fields were full of families taking pictures and couples kissing for the camera and people picking flowers for their perfect tulip bouquet.
We walked up and down the flower aisles and I was seeing colors I had no idea even existed. Beautiful shades of oranges, purples, yellows, whites, and reds. Sweet smells from the flowers made the experience so much fun just to get away and do something out of the norm.
I took my time observing the different shapes and colors of the flowers and I just could not help but thank God for what He created. That someone could plant a small brown bulb in the fertile soil, water it, and in a few months’ time a green sprout comes peeking out of the ground that grows tall into a colorful bloom. A totally incredible process. And as I was in awe of that process looking at all the flowers, I spotted 1 bright pink tulip in a row of yellow tulips all by itself. My first thought was “that flower doesn’t belong there.” “It’s different.” And at that moment I realized that I feel like that tulip at many times in my life.
Just writing honestly, it’s very easy to get discouraged sometimes because some of the answers to my prayers are taking way longer than I could ever imagine…. My life doesn’t “look” like other people my age and it can be hard to fit in, like that flower. Actually, I have never fit the cookie cutter mold – graduate high school, go to college, get married, buy a house, have a baby…in that order. And please do not think I am knocking that because I absolutely want those things. And I believe wholeheartedly that I will have the desires of my heart because I trust God too much to give up!
I have to remind myself that it’s OK for things to be different and stand out from the rest. To look different than my peers. To stand out in the crowd and not fit the cookie cutter mold. And when I do find myself in a funk or getting discouraged I think back to that flower. It was beautiful right where it was at. It didn’t matter that it looked different from every single flower surrounding it. It grew anyways. It stood tall anyways. It was shining bright anyways.
I encourage you to do the same. If you get discouraged because you don’t “fit in” or that your life seems different than everyone around you at the moment, shine anyways! Be Bold. Be Beautiful. Be You. God has a plan and a purpose for YOUR life and it is greater than you can comprehend. Thank God for making you the way He has and be thankful for all the wonderful blessings in your life!
All the best – K.
katiemichellerockwell 