The Poinsettia Among the Lilies

It started out as a joke.

After Christmas, the Vicar, Steve+, asked me to PLEASE take a church poinsettia home with me. They were all around the church, and he didn't have the heart to just throw them away, He pleaded with me to take one, then quipped, "If it's still alive at Easter, you can place it among the lilies at the altar."

Fast forward to Easter Sunday. The poinsettia is still alive. I debated with myself, wondering if I should actually take it to the altar. I mean, look at it. It's leaves are barely on. It isn't very pretty.  It looks kind of haggard. It's out of season, and really has no place on God's table next to the bright and beautiful Easter lilies. It should just stay home.

But then, I argued, it has new growth coming in some spots. It is still a vibrant red, and doing the very best living it can do at this point in it's life.

Kind of like me.

I'm not as beautiful as I used to be. I sometimes feel haggard.  I'm out of season, and often feel like I have no right to be at God's table, I try not to, but sometimes I look around at all the beautiful people in my life, and think if  I could only be like them, maybe I wouldn't feel so out of place here....  

Sometimes, I feel like I should just stay home.

So, after about an hour of debating with myself, I mustered up my courage, and took my flower, took myself, to God's table,  We are welcome there, It doesn't matter if we are pretty, haggard or out of season, All are welcome at the table of the Lord.  We will continue to shine as best we can among the lilies.

Happy Easter!