The importance of a weed.

It's that time of year again. I see people in their yards, spraying, digging, and picking those pesky yellow 'weeds' that seem to overrun the yard like ivy over an abandoned house. The yard across the street from mine, not a one. My yard, covered, and I don't mind it at all. I don't have all the time in the world to kill these annoying flowers that repopulate like rabbits. With my luck with plants, it would be a failed effort anyway.

A few days ago, I saw an article come across the faithful time sucking facebook about bees and their relationship with dandelions. (Just in case you are wondering, that's the yellow 'weed' I am referring to in the first paragraph.) I didn't believe that it was a match made in heaven, so I looked into it this morning. Apparently, it is. All types of bees visit these pollen infested plants. Not just bees, but beetles as well.

As I was drinking my coffee this morning I noticed a very interesting visitor to the weed. A chickadee. I watched as he pecked the white fluffy 'wish' part of the plant. He was eating the seeds. And spreading the other seeds around. After watching him do this for a while, I started to notice more birds copying his actions.

I thought about how cool it was that God used something for different animals, how efficient. He always seems to be 'planning ahead'. I thought about how everyone sees dandelions. They see something that is taking over their perfect green yard. Unless you are a special 4 year old girl bringing a handful to your mother, or a 9 year old girl making a 'salad' out of grass and other plants you find in your yard. They serve so many different purposes. Treating skin conditions, asthma, lower blood pressure, increase circulation, cure ulcers, assist in constipation, colds and hot flashes. (according to the guardian. Article called Let dandelions grow. Bees, beetles, and birds need them.)

You see something that is annoying, God uses it for a source of life. Of course we are all aware of the scripture saying that He makes all things that are bad into good. (Very losely translated from Genesis 50:20) Think about all the things in your own life that you have viewed as annoying or a problem that God has used for good. The terrible trials that you have endured that you have come out on the other side triumphant. The next time you see a dandelion, think about that. How God uses that one plant to feed a multitude of insects and animals, and heal humans as well.

Start looking at things differently because not everything is as it seems first glance.