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In The Garden...Amaryllis

While in GA with my parents, I was fortunate enough to spot two red amaryllis in a bed of red & white ones.  I say fortunate because Momma sent them home with me.  I planted them across the sidewalk from my other amaryllis.  Why?  Because when planted together, they all start producing red and white blooms.

Okay, I confess!  Curiosity kicked my “why” gene into hyperdrive.  Why do those bulbs stop blooming red and start blooming red and white?  I haven't found the answer, but it definitely reinforces a lesson I learned way back in high school.  A hard lesson learned with a close friend.

In today’s vernacular, we were BFF’s, and we gave each other the courage to do things we never would’ve done apart.  Sadly, they were not constructive, helpful, or profitable activities.  They were “fun” things like skipping school.  Honestly, they were only fun in the moment.  I was miserable the rest of the time.  All my other relationships were tainted by my need to protect our secret.  I didn’t want to get in trouble when I was already in the worst kind of trouble.  I was trapped; living a lie behind a mask of deceit.

Thankfully, I was caught, and my parents did something totally out of the box.   They told my friend’s parents what we’d done. Then they talked to the school’s principal, all my teachers, and the youth leaders at our church.  My friend and I were to remain separated at all times, and every one of those people were enlisted as our protection from one another.

My parents redefined restriction for us.  Instead of preventing us from being around those who were a good influence, we were restricted from one another.  Meanwhile we were encouraged to participate in all our usual after school and youth group activities.  This gave us opportunities to develop new friendships, kept us involved, and protected us from isolation.

I won't lie.  That was a hard time, but I grew to recognize and appreciate my parents' wisdom.  Michael Murdock perfectly expressed what I learned, "Each relationship nurtures a strength or a weakness within you."  I have that posted on my refrigerator as a daily reminder to choose my relationships wisely and make the most of every opportunity to nurture the good in all those around me.


Don’t be fooled. “Bad company ruins good character.”  1st Corinthians 15:33 (CJB)

Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.  Romans 12:2 (MSG)

I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from Satan’s power.  
John 17:15 (TLB)

Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God.  The Spirit also makes us sure that we will be given what God has stored up for his people.  Then we will be set free, and God will be honored and praised.  Ephesians 1:13-14 (CEV)

https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/amaryllis-care/5410.html


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