I love Sunflowers! I love the bright yellow flower that stands tall and leans into the sun. There is just something so cheerful about those big, open sunny faces shining for the world to see. To look over a field of tall yellow flowers is something of a spectacular sight. It seems to take all your cares and wash them away. I can scarcely take it in as I am driving past field after field of these magnificent flowers.
Interestingly, the outer petals of a sunflower are to attract the pollinators, but that big open area inside these petals is actually thousands more tiny flowers. How incredible.
Another fascinating fact, to harvest the seeds, the flower must die first. Upon the death of the flower, is the only time you can access the seeds. The flowers must dry out and then the seeds can be popped out of the flower in preparation to germinate and create further sunflowers.
Not only are these seeds for regrowth of other plants, but they are also edible and are full of nutrients, such as vitamins E, B1, B6, iron, copper, selenium, manganese, zinc and more. All packed into a tiny little seed.
When a sunflower is blooming and still a young plant it will tilt towards the sun and the sunflower head will actually follow the sun throughout day. When the flower has reached its maturity, it no longer needs to chase the sun, it just knows to face the east – the place where the sun rises to greet the day.
Did you know that you can be a sunflower too?
As lovers of Christ, we can stand tall, be cheerful – Proverbs 17:22 says, A cheerful heart is good medicine... We can use the love of Christ to radiate throughout us and help others to feel at peace in our presence.
When we stand together in unity, we are a force to be reckoned with – and can shed beauty everywhere we go.
Jesus is our outer layer, protecting us and helping us to attract others to Him, we are safe and cocooned in His wings. He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, And under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall. Psalm 91:4
To be children of Christ, we first must die to our old self, to be a new creation in Him. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Cor 5:17.
We can be seed planters, and the Word of God will give nutrition to all we meet. Matt 4:4 ..”Man shall not live by bread along, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
When we are young in our faith, we need to feed on the Word often and with vigor – this is where we are like the young sunflower – we too follow the Son from sunup to sundown. We need His daily Word to help us grow and strengthen our faith. As we mature in faith, we know exactly where we need to go – straight to the Son for our answers. We do not waiver. We know where our sustenance comes from, and we will continue to grow in strength.
So next time you see a sunflower, raise your face towards the Son and give thanks to the One who created you and gave you the opportunity to be His light in this world.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:16