Recently, my new husband and I moved from one end of the United States to the other. As I thought about which plants to grow in our new home, I realized that the different climate would support different plants than the climate I was used to. Last week, I went to a Bible study where a kind lady was giving away some basil plants. I timidly asked for one, and took home a very floppy basil plant. This sweet lady said all the plant needed to thrive was some sunshine. She was right! I placed the little green pot in my window sill, and now there are vibrant green basil leaves to enjoy! This basil needed more sun and less darkness, and once I exposed it to the sun, it flourished just like it was designed to.

Plants thrive in different climates, and I believe the same is true for us. In order to truly flourish, we need to let go of the idea that our “climate” and “care” have to look the same as someone else’s. We are so much more one-of-a-kind than plants, and yet we feel that we have to eat, sleep, exercise, and live like everyone else! Just as God designed plants to flourish in different environments and with different amounts of care, He designed us with specific needs and desires. These needs may be different than those of our families, friends, and the people we see on social media, but those differences are beautiful indicators of our creative and unique Designer.

Our Creator’s inventive design frees us from the stress and exhaustion of trying to look like everyone else. Instead of comparing our version of flourishing in our season with someone else’s version of flourishing in their season, we can joyfully celebrate each other’s gifts while basking in the light of the Son who created us exactly the way He wanted us to be (like today’s passage exclaims!). What holds us together with others is not the details of our care, but our common Caregiver. Let’s rejoice in the love and illumination of our Creator today as He works His flourishing work in us.