Was walking Penelope this afternoon in the crisp air of a beautiful blue sky winter afternoon and I noticed a few solitaire dandelions, their yellow blooms sparkling in the warm sun like jewels in a pile of trash. Amid the limbs and the remains of a huge cardboard stove box four bright yellow dandelion blooms were standing at attention soaking up the warm sunshine. The dandelion is a little weed, a symbol of hope, healing, and resilience. We should all be blessed with the determination of a dandelion.

Determination is a learned behavior. We set goals, being realistic about what we can achieve, and determination helps us achieve these goals. Jesus was determined to do God’s will and fulfill his destiny. Scripture in John 6:38 quotes Jesus as saying, “For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me.” Even though they rejected him, Jesus was determined to love those who were lost. Even in the midst of condemnation and rejection, Jesus was determined to speak the truth of God’s love. He used his determination to persevere through obstacles and temptations to achieve his goal of saving mankind.

Bible scripture tells us God is in control of everything but he gave us the freedom to choose our path. God wants us to seek him and follow his commandments but we’re ultimately responsible for our actions. Living a Christian life requires us to pray and make decisions that are according to God’s will. I think it takes determination to live a Christian life, to follow Jesus in this changing world we’re living in. We have to be determined to follow God no matter all the temptations and distractions of daily life. We have to have the resolve to know God’s will and follow through with it.

We have to be like the little dandelions raising their yellow heads knowing God will protect them from the cold, closing their petals tightly knowing God’s promised sun will rise and warm their blooms, coaxing them open tomorrow. Bible scripture in John 1 says “…God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” We can have God’s light in our lives if we seek God through our prayers and live according to his teachings. Accepting God into our hearts fills us with God’s light. God’s grace will shine through our actions and we’ll be a light to others.

Walking in the “Light of God” is a lifelong journey of challenges but the walk is filled with much joy and countless blessings.

“Dandelions teach us that even in the harshest conditions, beauty thrives.” — Wolfglobal