Flowers in the Father's Garden

This month I learned of the passing of two very special men. One was a brother in Christ, who over the last year was filming my videos, was responsible for getting me into the White House and had filmed my series "Backbone" which we sat and edited two days before his massive stroke. We had anticipated releasing last the series last month. Then without warning, he was gone. The other gentleman was just that. An in law who was always warm and engaging and a charming gentleman... gone without warning.

I was so saddened by the loss of my friend that it felt selfish. I felt like I finally connected with this generous, hardworking, reliable comrade and midstream God changed the current. The in law a true servant leader, in the midst of doing well and living life, God changed the current. The only way I know to process these hodge podge of sticky emotions is to go to God about God. Every single time I have done it, He answers. I don't always like or understand, but nevertheless He answers. I said, "Lord I know death is inevitable and I don't struggle with that aspect especially because I know you. But why does it bring so much sadness and feelings of great loss, if we all have to go?" Then he reminded me of a song I wrote many years ago about being flowers in the Father's garden. He showed me the fresh gardenias I love to have on my dining room table and He said, "Renee it doesn't matter if you trim the stems each day and change the water and put in those packets to keep the flowers fresh they will not stay forever".

Flowers are shared as gifts and inhaled as healing aromas. They are decorative and enhance an environment with their splendor and fragrance. So profound is the presence of flowers that they pronounce or conclude a season. This is the purpose of our lives, to be an exquisite array in the Father's garden. Giving and living to love. Each of us with a different petal, stem, shape, color or essence but still part of a bouquet the gardener eagerly wants to distribute to the world.

These men BLOOMED. They enhanced the lives of many by living their assignments in full color, by understanding if they blossomed you would blossom too. This view has deepened my understanding, massaged the ache and raised my bar. With the acquisition of things, accolades and personal agendas we all forget, this life like the flower, is temporary. We can not stay, but we can pledge to flourish and thrive with the time we are given.