Bloom Where You Are Planted

On my morning walk recently, I noticed some beautiful pink roses growing alongside the road. And they are very fragrant! They have been there ever since I can remember, and it seems that every June there are more of them. What amazes me is that they can grow and flourish in spite of the location they are in. The soil is terrible and never amended. During the winter snows, there's salt, wind and storms. And they don't receive any tender loving care, like fertilizer or bug spray. All they receive is the light from the sun, and rain. That's all. And still they return every year, full of new buds, blooming abundantly. Even though they are covered in thorns, their beautiful flowers stand out, to be appreciated by others.
This reminds me of people, like you and me. Are we blooming where we are planted? The roses didn't choose to be planted by the road, yet they make the best of their situation and bloom anyway. They look up and receive the glorious sunshine, and are replenished by the rain. As a result, they bloom and are beautiful. Therefore, blessing anyone who happens to walk by, like I have.
 You, too, may be planted in a terrible situation, and wonder how you ever got there. You don't feel like "blooming" and the thorns in your life are creeping up. You are beaten by the storms around you, and wonder how you can survive.
There is a "Son" who is available to give you the needed "Light", and the rain (the Holy Spirit) to replenish you. Jesus Christ came to give life abundantly to those who seek Him. He is the Light of the world, which is clothed in darkness because of the evil that is around us. You were created in the image of God, and when you look up to receive His Light, you are receiving life itself. You are then able to be beautiful, and to bloom, as you were created to do. The Holy Spirit, which dwells in anyone who receives Jesus as Lord, replenishes our spirit, and enables us to endure hardships. We are strengthened, and enabled, to bring blessings to others, in spite of our circumstances.
Are you blooming where you are planted?