Late Bloomers

Lots of signs of spring everywhere --- several have posted pictures of their daffodils on Facebook. After seeing yet another picture of the beautiful yellow blossoms, I went out to check on mine. Nope -- not even a sign of the bud swelling yet. It is the same every year as the bulbs are blooming everywhere except in my yard. I am not sure whether it is because they are planted on the shady side of the house, or because they are a particularly late variety, or maybe because they came from my mother's flower garden in West Virginia and not able to keep up with the earlier North Carolina spring. There is nothing I can do to rush them.
I have a couple of "late-bloomers" in my kindergarten class this year. Just because they were old enough to come to school, it doesn't mean their little bodies and brains were ready to start reading and writing at the same time as the rest of the class. And no matter how much I try, I can't make them mature any faster. They just need the gift of time.
I was wondering if God feels the same way -- wishing His children weren't so slow to "get it." We talked about Peter in Sunday School this morning and the time that Jesus said, "Who do you say that I am?" I wonder how long he stood there, shuffling his feet, before he answered? Even with all he had experienced while following Jesus, did he still hesitate? I see people all around who have heard the Word, but have not made that commitment to become a follower. Or they have made a profession of faith in God, but don't really show much growth since they believed. Does God want to say, "just BLOOM!!!"?
John 15:8 says "You should produce much fruit and show that you are my followers, which brings glory to my Father."
My flowers will eventually show their colors.My children will finally learn to read and write.  And I plan to produce fruit and bring glory to God -- but sometimes I am that late bloomer -- by my good intentions that are often too little or too late. So here is another message from God to me -- "Do it now -- BLOOM ALREADY!!"

Amazed by You

 "Lord, I'm amazed by You
Lord, I'm amazed by You
Lord, I'm amazed by you
How you love me."

Although it has been a rather hard week at school, it has been a week full of blessings.  It was my birthday week, and I was also voted "Teacher of the Year" by the other teachers at my school.  So I received cakes and flowers and gifts and applause and recognition at school, at chorus, at church, and at home this week.  People have been so kind -- it reminded me of a little sign that hung in my bedroom before I got married.  It said, "I suspect people of plotting to make me happy."  But this morning at church, I was singing this song with the praise team, and suddenly the words I was singing touched my soul.  I AM amazed at how the Lord constantly shows His love for me -- so undeserving, yet still blessed beyond measure. So I thought I'd better write it down as a reminder to myself on those days with no applause.  The days with dirty dishes, fender-benders, no planning period, students with head lice,  -- even the days with sickness and tragedy -- a reminder that I have experienced God's amazing love so many times and I want to always remember that feeling.