Since I obtained Steve Deux he has been becoming a more manly looking plant. He has shed his pretty petals and has a more plain but sturdy exterior. My initial thoughts that I was going to have a pretty plant now were humbled when the flowers and buds started to wilt and fall away. What was once colorful is now simply green. I know what you may be thinking..."bet you don't want him anymore do ya?" Well I do. I appreciate Steve Deux and look forward to keeping Steve Deux alive to bloom another day. Because he will, he is consistent and while he may not always show it very well he remains steadfast. So since he can stay steadfast and unchanging so can I. I was even more grateful to even have a plant after the blog the other day on Ed's page. To be able to simply say I have a plant when it could have been taken from me is a blessing.Why is it a blessing? because I really like the accountability it has given me. From the start it has been a button of courage. Actually at first I was really proud of my plant it was big and green and growing but as time went on its been something I carry, not that I'm not still impressed with my plant but its part of my life now. I suppose it really reflects my walk with Christ at first your super pumped because Jesus is just that awesome but as time goes on you become mature and while it still excites you your life and your walk become one and you don't really notice the difference. It is my life. Christ is my life. Steve is my life. It still convicts me the same as the beginning. Megan said it best when she said, "It sees the me behind closed doors". At first I didn't know that it would really keep me consistent in my behavior like it has. I definitely didn't know that it would embolden my faith like it has. A month ago it was very hard for me to be open about my faith in certain environments. It is even more amazing to me the reception that Steve has had from my friends the fact that I thought I would be ridiculed for it and just the opposite has happened. I have people who get concerned if Steve isn't with me or ask me where he is if I don't have him by me. I didn't realize what a major undertaking and how many lessons it would teach me. And......... WE ARE ONLY HALF WAY THROUGH!
So currently, Steve and I have had a temporary vacation. We have been chilling by the pool and relaxing at the resort with family. Plenty of family, new people to introduce Steve to, that are so curious. When recapping how Steve became Steve Deux, my mother and her cohorts (my lovely aunt, my sisters mother-in-law, and my mothers friends) decided that I had become and adulterer from choosing Steve Deux over Steve. While I dug my hole by telling them that I chose pretty over sturdy, that I was looking for a bigger challenge, and that I saw it first so I took it. I was left pretty speechless. I really couldn't come up with anything and my initial reasoning that it was a glimpse into the future growth didn't really hold up. I still don't think I made a mistake. and if I did well then I will live with that mistake and still love Steve Deux the same.
Honestly, its hard to write right now because I am not sure what I think about what they said. Yes I saw it and because it was a "real lily" and I had researched what a "real lily" takes and felt like I was up to the challenge I took it. But what happens when my "fake lily" flourishes more than my "real lily" which to look at it and say that it is a lily right now would be difficult if you didn't know it was a lily. Its all green and has no resemblance to a flower but someday it will bloom again and when it does I will still remain the same. I am satisfied and content with my decision, I am not worried about if or when it will bloom, and I definitely still think it has the ability to challenge me and grow me but it is going to be different.
Pretty truely is in the eye of the beholder. You do realize that introducing the Lillie was a set up, right? Although I never thought it was setting up you. I thought you were very attached to Steve and would never, never, never, ever give him up. AFter these few days have passed are you expeiiencing anything different with this palnt as compared to the first one?
ReplyDeleteIt was really an interesting lesson for all of us too especially with all that is going on right now in marriages in our family. Its so easy to want what we don't have because "it looks better" or because "it appears to be more fullfilling". But sometimes the challenge is to turn away from the prettier things and choose to stick with what we have and continue on the path we started on and be devoted to that. Perhaps you were given Steve for a reason...not the Lily...what that reason was you will never know now. I was surprised that with the attachment you had with Steve that you were easily swayed to "trade him in" as if he no longer had the same value to you. And what if the choice you made was not a good one for Steve did you even consider his well being in your choice or were you so enamored by the beauty and the challenge of the lily?
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