Our Stories for His Glory
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors.”
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)
Recently my cousin was in a bind. Carol belongs to a local Master Gardener club and is responsible for securing speakers for the group’s monthly meetings. One evening during dinner Carol called saying, “I hate to ask you, but…” I immediately thought she was going to ask me to pinch hit for her garden club speaker. Instead, she asked me to come and conduct a flower arranging demonstration.
I’ve been a member of my church’s Flower Guild for the last 17 years, but honestly, I’m much more comfortable with purchasing, conditioning, and repurposing our flowers than I am with arranging them. I often describe myself to other Guild members as “the Bucket Girl!” I like helping, but not designing or being in charge. Given the choice between writing a 500-word article for our monthly Women’s Ministry newsletter or arranging an altar or foyer flower arrangement, I’ll take the writing assignment any day of the week. John Maxwell once wrote, “Lead with your strengths and staff with your weaknesses!” I am well aware of both my strengths, weaknesses, and limits!
“Normally I wouldn’t ask, but I don’t know what else to do,” Carol explained.
“If it was anybody else but you, I would say, ‘No’ but I’ll do it, “ I replied reluctantly.
I decided to do a small Biedermeier arrangement. Biedermeier arrangements originated in Switzerland in the late 1800s. They are tightly structured bouquets that are great for a buffet table or sideboard- wherever you need some height. Biedermeier flowers are usually placed in an urn and arranged very tightly together in concentric circles. Flower selection may vary according to the desired size of the arrangement, but hydrangeas usually serve as a good base for the design, followed by roses or lilies, and finally completed with taller flowers like snapdragons, Bells of Ireland, or larkspur.
The next day I purchased some flowers, gathered my supplies, and chose a white soup tureen that Mama had given me years ago as my container. On Thursday I drove to Moody City Hall for my flower arranging workshop. Nervously I prayed a quick “Lord, help!” dart prayer because I was really out of my comfort zone.
Once there, Carol helped me unload my flowers and supplies in a pouring rain storm. The Garden Club meeting began with a hearty potluck breakfast for the Master Gardeners. I was surprised – well actually dismayed- to see a large number of men in attendance. How many men would actually be interested in flower arranging?
After breakfast Carol introduced me and I began my demonstration with some basic tips for soaking floral oasis, selecting flowers, cutting stems, etc. I quickly realized that I needed to do something besides discussing flower techniques to hold folks’ attention. I began cutting and placing flowers, sharing my story about how and why I joined our church’s Flower Guild as I worked. I also shared about our special needs son James Bruce and how God led me to choose John 6:12 (“Gather up the pieces that nothing will be lost”) as my life verse. Almost immediately, I sensed the entire room’s atmosphere change. People began leaning in and listening to my James Bruce stories as I shared just some of the ways God has used him in our lives. I soon realized that this workshop wasn’t really about flower arranging; it was an opportunity to point people to the sufficiency of Christ in the middle of our suffering and loss.
After the workshop concluded several people, including some of the men who were present, came to tell me how encouraging it was to have someone talking about Jesus at City Hall! I once heard it said that preachers should be ready to pray, preach, or die at a moment’s notice. At the time, I thought that speaker was joking, but since James Bruce and Pastor Reeder’s sudden deaths, I’ve decided that all of us should be prepared to preach, pray, or die at a moment’s notice. At the very least, we need to be prepared to share the good news of the gospel.
The Apostle Peter writing to early Christians facing persecution encouraged a spirit of readiness when he wrote, “Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
That Garden Club meeting was so much more than a hastily arranged flower workshop. It was a Divine Appointment and an opportunity to point people to Jesus Christ. God can use whatever time, talents, and broken pieces we are willing to gather and give back to Him. Our stories are for His glory.
Prepare to share!