Becoming More Sunflowerish

I sat in our backyard tonight in air so heavy I could almost see it. 

Staring at our tallest sunflower, I marveled at how my life changed when I became like a sunflower twelve years ago.

Sunflowers crane their necks and follow the sun with their face all day long and then rest in one place at night.

And, well, as I sat in the yard and stared at the sunflower,I thought, "For the last twelve years I've tried to be like a sunflower--and finally, God was able to make me more like Him."

Instead of wildly looking through books and blogs and tapes and lessons about how to become more like Jesus, I've found I change more when I turn my face toward the Son and let Him change me. 

And it still amazes me when He simply says, "Come here. Sit down beside me awhile and I will change you in my presence. Sit still and you'll hear my wisdom, rest quietly and you will never be the same."

And even after all those hours sitting and leaning against His sleeve, it amazes me that I sometimes forget and walk around trying to be as good as His goodness. And then He is the one doing the reminding-- "Debra! Quit trying so hard. Even if you could become good on your own, it would never be good enough."

Only what He does through me is good enough.

And so I pray to become more sunflowerish--always with my face following the Son during the day and completely at rest, sweet rest, at night.


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