Naturalists and herbalists will tell you that it's an herb - good to eat (high in beta carotene) and healthy for your liver. You can use them to make dandelion tea (or wine!), eat the greens in salads, boil or saute them, dip them in batter, or eat the flowers. It is also reported that the milky white sap is a good remedy for warts, moles, pimples, calluses, and relieves bee stings and blisters!
(The things you learn through 'googling' amaze me.)

There's a good illustration here, don't you think? It's all about perspective. How we see things. Our view is often skewed by circumstance, experience, beliefs. And certainly by our self-absorption. If we're looking at something - or someone - through our own perspective it's easy to get it wrong. But looking at it through the lens of God's Word helps to keep us balanced - His Truth helps us get it right.

I noticed something the other day about these 'perennial, herbaceous plants' that I later confirmed in my research. They seemed withered - as if their full bloom had taken an assault by the rains that came to our area. I found out that they are extremely sensitive to weather conditions. In the sunlight they stretch out broad and plump to the warmth and light, but when it clouds up or rains they pull in on themselves, folding their yellow petals the same way we might wrap our arms around ourselves in a cold wind. They close up at night, and stretch out in the morning.

I'm not sure how all that relates to perspective, except that it does remind me that each of us are individuals, with our own opinions and beliefs. It might shock some of us, but there's not a one of us that are always right, all the time. In fact, most of us are mostly wrong! However, 'love covers a multitude of sins' (1 Pet 4: 8, Prov 10:12) and God's Grace covers the rest!

I have felt like a dandelion at times - usually when others belittle me. I wonder if my own words have been the cause to wither someone else? Words of encouragement and understanding are warm and uplifting - and like the sun on a dandelion flower they build people up, stretch them out to grow and share their beauty with others. Words that are critical are as sharp as a physical blow and make people respond by withdrawing into themselves for protection.

Weeds are irritants, nuisances, something to remove so beauty can shine through. Flowers bloom and grow in beauty, they lift the spirits, add joy and are delightful to behold.

Weed or flower in other's lives - which are you?

All for Him

Missy

Labels: Missy