Monday's Musings: Life Lessons from a Morning Glory

by Mary Denman  @MaryDenman

I used to think morning glories were just a weed, a nondescript flowering vine to be pulled from a

garden. 

Now, I realize I love them.

Their colors.

Their leaves.

Their tenacity.

I've learned life lessons from morning glories as I've spent time photographing them.

One of the first things I've noticed is that they can grow under difficult circumstances.

These grow by a very busy road outside of my neighborhood. Every vehicle that passes them assaults them with a hard blast of air.

Yet, they cheerfully wave to every car, whether the driver or passengers notice them or not.

That gives me reason to pause. Am I cheerful whether others notice or not? Or do I let my mood be determined by how other people respond to me?

I want to be cheerful like the morning glories, ready to brighten someone's day.

Secondly, they don't mind growing on rusty fence posts or barbed wired.
It makes no difference to them. But to me, it makes them stand out even more against such a harsh backdrop.

I wonder if I can be like that, showing God's love to people in a world whose backdrop can be unfair and harsh.

Another thing I noticed about them are the leaves. They're shaped like a heart.

A perfect heart, holding on tenaciously to the rusty fence. Lovingly wrapping its tendrils around the barbed wire.

That's when it hit me.

Truly, love conquers all, when it comes from God.

He lovingly wraps his arms around us when we're cranky, rusty, or harsh.

He shows us by example how to love our enemies.

How to forgive others and ourselves.

How to grow and flourish where ever we're planted.

I love the idea of God wrapping his arms around me.

Walking with me in life.

I know he does.

I just love having a picture of that, playing out in my mind.

He wants to wrap his arms around you today, too.

Showing you what true love is.

I pray that you will know his love today. 

When have you been the morning glory in someone's life, cheerfully greeting them? 

What lessons could you learn from a morning glory?

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Life Lessons from a Morning Glory (click to tweet)

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