Matthew 6 and Luke 12 both give us a snapshot of the teachings of Jesus from what we know as the "Sermon on the Mountain". He started with "The Beatitudes" in Matthew chapter 5. He had much to add about how we are to live our lives - what we think, do, say, and how we react.
Matthew 6:25 Jesus starts teaching about not being anxious about your life - what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear, or food to eat.
Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of his life? 28. And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29. yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ESV
Jesus was trying to convey to them how much they (and us) are loved by the Father. Solomon who was known in all the world for his magnificent glory and splendor, yet when we look at the flowers, we find such beauty in the colors and details.
We also know that flowers have a season that they bloom, and each has its own time of the year that it blooms and for how long they bloom. Each flower is different, yet similar. Isn't that kind of like each of us? We are all people (flowers), yet we look different, express ourselves differently (different kinds of petals, colors, stalks, stamens, etc.) and we shine in many different ways and seasons of our lives (spring flowers, summer flowers, shade flowers, sun flower, etc.).
The Bible does mention flowers a few more times, so we do know that they had them and used them. In fact, in Genesis 1, God planted the Garden of Eden. That must have been the most beautiful garden there has ever been! I would love to have seen it!
In looking at the history of when flowers began to have an emotional meaning to them goes mostly back to the Victorian Era. Flowers were given as gifts mostly when a young man wanted to date a young lady, and it became part of the dating culture. (I'm not going to explore that now - but it is interesting, if you want to look that up - or maybe we'll take that on at another time.)
I'd like to just show you some of the flowers that I have grown and the meanings that they convey in a bouquet. I think that while they are in the growing, collectively they sing and praise their maker.
Yellow mums (chrysanthemums) are beautiful fall flowers. They mostly bloom in the fall and add that pop of color to fall decorating. They come in many colors from deep bronze, plum, pink, lavender, white, and many more. The mums mean "optimism, joy, and long life". However, the yellow mum is given the distinction of "slighted love". (Feeling insulted, ignored, and having hurt feelings.) I find that sad, because it is such a cheery color!
I LOVE pansies! There is such a wide variety of colors that they come in and also in different sizes. They range from the "Johnny-jump-ups" to the Giant size flowers. All colors from white, pale blues, to deep reds, purples, and bronzes. They are amazing in groups and smell amazing!
Pansies mean: love or admiration, and inspire thoughtfulness. They are the Birth Flower for February. In Oklahoma they provide color all winter. Except for extreme cold snaps, which will set them back, or even die if they don't get enough moisture. They love the cool weather, and bloom all winter (in OK), if you water them and dead-head them as the blooms finish.
Begonias will bloom all summer and their meaning is "deep thoughts". There are sun begonias and shade begonias. So maybe those represent different types of deep thoughts? LOL They come mostly in white, pinks and reds with yellow centers. They are very fragile - maybe too much thinking. They don't like the heat very much and will require water to get through the hot days. I find them cheery and love them for blooming in the shade to give a pop of color.
Most florists can help you out if you want to convey a certain feel with a bouquet of flowers - cheer someone up, show love and affection, say I'm sorry, etc. You get the idea, that you can express emotions and ideas when you know the meanings of the flowers.
I used to call flowers "smiles from God", and maybe that's a good way to think of them. He created them and made them beautiful and gave them sweet fragrances, too.
Stop and smell a flower today and thank the Lord for caring for you even more than the flowers of the field. How intricately he made them, as He did you.
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