Deep thoughts by rachel

So the other day I was out doing yard work and noticed something starting to grow by my kids swing set. I thought it looked interesting and so I left it alone. It kept growing and at one point I thought it may be a weed and thought about cutting it down. I decided to leave it thinking it may be a sunflower. I gave my kids strict intructions to leave it alone and not touch it. I still thought it was a weed because it didnt look like the sunflowers I had seen before, but still wanted to leave it alone.Well a couple of days ago I went out and imagine what I saw! It was a beautiful bright sunflower. It is so strange because we didnt plant it and the location of where it is growing is unusual. I guess a bird dropped the see or something.
I have been a little down lately with things that have been going on around me. I am sure it is partly hormonal and part because of the realness (if that is a word) about what people I love are going through.

I know so many YOUNG people that have cancer. I found out today a distant cousin has brain cancer. It is so sad and tragic to me because they all have young kids. Others that I know are struggling in their marriages while others struggle with addictions. It troubles me mostly because I wish I could help in some way. I guess this whole sunflower thing has brought me comfort knowing that there is a God who loves us and watches out for us. If we look and decide to do the best we can he will show us something beautiful in return. If you give up before the challenge is through you could miss out on a great experience. I could have cut down what I thought was a weed at one point and then what would I have got? Nothing..

So the moral of my deep thoughts....while the challenges that we are all going through are different and may seem like weeds....If we look really close they may turn into something beautiful in the end. I am thankful for moments like these that help me realize that God has a plan for each of us and that while I may be sad at times there is beauty all around me to help me be happy! We should take the time to be thankful for all we have been given even if we are in the midst of hardships. After all "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it" I know, I know my mind is really running wild, just trying to stay in touch with what matters in life. Deep thoughts by Rachel......lol...