My birthday was this week and I was excited. I like getting older – weird, I know. Maybe it has something to do with growing up around everyone who is decades older than me. I always feel like the baby. Anyway, I digress. One thing I love to receive are surprise flowers. There were a few years in college when I would get a bouquet of flowers for my birthday from my mom or my sister and it made me feel so special. The flowers were always a good conversation started too. They gave me a way to tell people it was my birthday without sounding self absorbed or awkward. I just never knew how to causally tell people about my birthday. People could ask me “oh! What are the flower for?” I tend to overthink things.
Would you kindly send me some flowers please?… Thanks!
This year I wanted flowers. However, how does one ask for flowers? Awkward – again. “Hey…It’s my birthday next week, could you please send me flowers? Thanks!” Ugh! Lame! I’m ashamed to admit that I almost ordered my own flower delivery. Doubly lame! What would the florist think when they see “Happy Birthday Jessica! From Jessica”. Nope, not doing that either. That is way too desperate. What’s a girl to do? Well, I took my problem to the Lord, frivolous as it was. Firstly, I told Him the situation (He loves this the way) and asked Him to send me flowers for my birthday. My relationship with God has been good lately. We’re tight. Therefore, I was confident I would get flowers. I looked for my flowers all day. As my birthday came to a close, I was faced with the reality that I did not get flowers for my birthday.
That’s a bummer…
I’m not gonna lie, it hurt but I sucked it up and told God that I would be OK. The flowers would have been nice but not necessary. I put it out of my mind and moved on. The next day, a student pops into my office and says, “Is today your birthday?” He had seen it on Facebook. I informed him that it was yesterday. Then he says, “Did you get any flowers for your birthday?” I chuckled and said no. He was appalled and said, “I’ll be right back.” He went back to the classroom where Introduction to Floral Design was just wrapping up, grabbed a handful of flowers, returned to my office and presented them to me. After a hug, he said, “Take these, put them in some water and enjoy them.” I was beaming! My flowers arrived not ON my birthday but for my birthday none-the-less. All in God’s time. By the way, this student had no idea about my heavenly request for flowers.
It was a frivolous and childish request but God loves us that much. I can guarantee you I don’t deserve those flowers but it was my child-like faith in Him that made Him smile down on me that day. I can’t even imagine what He has in store for me when I pray for His will to be done in my life. Year 2020 is going to be a big year for me. I can feel it.
Paying it forward
I want to be like that student for someone else, a messenger of God’s love. If I feel a tug at my heart to do something kind for someone, I pray that I carry through and do it. No matter how random or crazy it may seem at the time. It may be God working through me to show His love for another person. Do you have a time when God answered your prayer through someone in your life? Or did you unknowingly answer someone else’s prayer by following that urge to do something special for someone?
