Yesterday we went on our weekly road trip within 20 miles of our home. It’s always good for us to roam through the surrounding neighborhoods and burrows in search of God’s beautiful bounty of creation. Nothing takes your mind off yourself better. As we searched the landscape, there were signs of spring everywhere. We came upon flowering cherry trees, some newly blossoming perennials and a lovely field of dandelions. I remember picking and receiving big bouquets of these flowers back in the day. Nothing says loving, like a handful of dandelions. When we got home from our drive, there was a girl walking with her mom. She was on roller skates and had a bundle of dandelions in her hand. It made me think of those days when my own children would do the same for me.

I guess these weeds are beauty in the eye of the beholder, but to those who love perfectly green lawns they can become a real pain in the neck. When my children brought me bouquets of dandelions, it meant they were thinking of me in a special way. Even though, when placed in water, they soon wilted and turned my fingers green. Our point of view has a lot to do with how we view everything in life. When things aren’t going well for us, when we have difficult decisions to make, when health problems occur, when we are emotionally hurting, a cheerful bouquet of dandelions might clear up the troubles for the moment, but soon the beauty wears off and the flowers wilt and die.

If we look at the dandelions as only weeds, we’re neglecting the beauty they can bring to a barren field or empty lawn. Weeds will come. They’re mixed in with healthy grasses and flowers. Soon they turn into giant puff balls of seeds which scatter and grow again. There will always be the tough things to deal with in life, but God will even open our eyes to great beauty and hope and faith that tomorrow will be another day. Your perspective can and will change your outlook if you let it. Don’t miss out on the beauty that’s right before your eyes.