Lesson from a 4 year old

Last week I brought my two Albany grandsons to my house to spend the night. We pulled into the driveway and Andrew, my 4 year old, stepped out of the car and  said, “Mimi your yard is a beautiful garden”.  At first I wondered what he was talking about. Then I realized he was looking at all the yellow dandelions in the front yard.

I pondered his beautiful garden idea for a few minutes and found myself wondering why adults don’t look at dandelions the way a 4 year olds does. God has provided a beautiful spring garden in our yards and we try hard to get rid of those weeds.

When we talk about dandelions we use words like weeds and ugly. We associate dandelions with work and think of them as bothersome with no good purpose. I contemplated God's purpose for dandelions. Perhaps food, perhaps beauty, perhaps for little boys to pick for mommies.

Moving into greater reflection I wondered how many other things God provides for me that I try to get rid of, don’t appreciate, complain about or even choose to ignore. Things like interruptions in my day, bugs, problems, broken things, rain, people, etc. These things I tend to look at as weeds but God has placed them there for my growth.

Why wouldn’t we step out of the van, see a yard full of yellow flowers and say, “wow what a beautiful garden”! Why wouldn't we thank God for the things he brings into our lives each day!