GOD’S LITTLE FLOWER

A seed was dropped by a passing bird
As he flew through a public park.
It landed between two boulders
In a crevice, cramped and dark.

There it lay, in its dormant state
Through Winter’s icy blast
‘Til Spring rains trickled through the crack,
And the seed took root at last.

Growth was slow and stunted
Within the granite cell
Where light was dim and distant
And moisture seldom fell;

But grow it did! In spite of every
Hampering, hindering blight,
Little by little it inched its feeble way
Towards the light;

And the golden dawn of a Summer’s day
Saw a glad new life begun.
Up from the depths one tiny bud
Lifted its face to the sun.

New life was born, and love bloomed
In the heart of God’s little flower,
Which drew from the warmth and sunshine
Vital sustenance and power;

Power to rise above circumstances’
Crippling, cruel embrace,
And blossom forth beyond the rock-
A miracle of grace.

And the brave little flower
With its cheeky face tilted toward the sky
Freely bestowed its fragrant joy
Upon weary passers-by.

In a world where we strive for perfection,
Discarding what is broken or marred,
We have little time for anything
Which is flawed or crippled or scarred.

But God has chosen the foolish things
Of the world, to confound the wise,
And a feeble flower with stunted roots
Is still precious in His eyes.

© Nesta F Sutherland

(Written for Iris)

… God hath chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty.
1 Corinthians 1:27