Some blooms on our sage plant.

The other day I found my Dad out in front of our house talking to one of the plants.  He was standing in front of one of our bushes saying, “Bloom!  You can do it!  Bloom!”  Of course I had to ask him, “What in the world are you doing?”  He explained to me that the Texas sage in our flower bed has a unique quality…

It goes by many names – Texas sage, purple sage, silver-leaf, Texas ranger, cenizo, and wild lilac.  Texas sage has been nicknamed ‘barometer bush’ because of the unique reaction it has to increased atmospheric humidity.  Native to Texas and Mexico, this plant can bloom in the hottest of weather when humidity increase and conditions become optimal for rain to occur.

The debate on the meteorological accuracy of a blooming Texas sage has been going on since the 1800s.  Some dismiss the barometer bush as an old wives tale, but others look for the bloom and pray for rain.

Perhaps we can see the same thing in our lives.  There are people who seem to set themselves up for failure while others bloom and wait for the blessings to come pouring down.  Attitude and outlook seem to have a lot to do with it.  In the midst of intense heat and drought, the Texas sage puts out blossoms as a sign of good things to come.  When things get ‘hot and dry’ in our lives do we whither away or do we blossom?

God’s creation stands as a testimony to his ongoing care and provision.  God’s people should also try their best to remind themselves and others of His ongoing care for us…

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
– Matthew 6:26-29

On a personal note, sorry for disappearing for the past few weeks.  My wife injured her leg about two months ago and I have been redirecting my time and energy to helping at home.  The side business I started this year has also been doing really well so that consumes a fair amount of time.  I have a string of post ideas written down and hope to have time to get them developed and posted in a timely manner.  Thanks for reading.  Thanks for sticking with me.  I hope you have an incredible day!

Don’t forget Dinnertime Devotionals 29 – The end of Joseph’s story.