Sometimes, blessings come in unexpected forms or places. Sometimes, it’s easy to miss them because we aren’t intentionally looking for them. During our recent trip to the Big Island of Hawai’i, we parked our vehicle in front of a tree with pink blossoms. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, thinking it was a common tree that grew along the side of the road. We saw a bunch of them in Volcano and Waimea (the cooler parts of the Big Island). Just before the rain started to come down, I managed to snap a few photos in an effort to ID the tree. I later asked one of the employees at Akatsuka Orchid Gardens if that tree happened to be a cherry tree. And–indeed, it was!
Cherry trees aren’t native to Hawai’i. It’s a gift that symbolizes US-Japan relations or the friendship between the US and Japan following World War II. You’ve probably seen these “friendship gifts” in Washington D.C. in person or in photos. They are an absolute beauty to behold!
The thing is, most of us know to seek out these “cherry blossom blessings” when we go to, say, Washington D.C., Japan, or even the VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, B.C. But, we probably wouldn’t think to seek them out in Hawai’i or in South Florida’s Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. The cherry blossoms in Hawaii and South Florida look different from the ones that we’re used to seeing in photos–but, they’re still cherry blossoms. They’re still beautiful. Oftentimes, however, they are easy to miss, because we aren’t proactively seeking them out.
What a powerful message this little cherry blossom delivers to my soul! I’m guilty of not proactively seeking out His blessings. Sure, I may ask for God to bless me, to bless others–but far too often, I seek these blessings in the usual places… sometimes, in places where I expect to see them, and not where God intends to place them. If only I were seeking God, then and only then would He illuminate my eyes to see His very special blessing that’s been waiting just for me. There are times, like the cherry tree in the parking lot, this blessing could be right in front of me!
My friend, are you missing out on some of God’s amazing blessings? Let’s seek Him out, He is waiting for us to hold out our hand and walk with Him.
Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7 KJV
When we do find that blessing, let’s not forget to praise and thank Him for His goodness to us.
The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Proverbs 10:22 KJV
Application
God intends to bless us daily (Psalm 68:19 KJV). Let’s spend some quiet time with Him and ask Him for a blessing or two that He would like for us to see today. That blessing might just already be sitting in front of you. Take some time to appreciate that blessing in honor of the One Who graciously gave it to us.
Take action: Would you join me in starting a personal “Book of Blessings”? If you would like to receive God’s greatest Blessing to us, this page tells you how to receive that Blessing today.
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