Dandelions

    

     What do you want to do when you grow up? It’s a question I ask my kindergarteners at the beginning of each school year. I might learn I’m teaching a future firefighter, ballerina, chef, vet, singer and all-star athlete. And that’s just one child’s answer. I love that they dream big because I know God has big plans for their lives. 

     When I was their age, I wanted to take care of babies, teach school, train animals, write books, and solve mysteries. One job I don’t remember dreaming about doing is gardening. But life is full of surprises and it turns out, as a kindergarten teacher, I garden every day. I realized this, much to my delight, when I discovered the word “kindergarten” originated from German words meaning “garden of children.” 

     God has a way of adding unexpected twists to what we plan to do. But when it comes to what he wants his children to be, he’s not trying to keep us guessing. Scripture provides a pretty clear picture of the type of flower he’s nurturing in his garden. He’s not cultivating prize winning roses or delicate orchids. Instead, he seems bent on raising a bumper crop of dandelions.

     This unassuming flower-weed is an everyday example for followers of Christ. So as I listen to my kinder-cuties tell me what they plan to do one day, I pray for what I hope they will grow up to be— dandelions.

     Dandelions sink their roots down deep, breaking up hard soil and accessing nutrients far underground. When cut, the tiniest of pieces can produce new growth. 

     As my students dream and grow, I pray they will sink roots of faith deep into the heart of God. I pray any hard places inside them will be broken as they experience his grace. May they draw nourishment from the truth of God’s word. And when life hurts and their faith feels tiny, may their roots grow deeper still.

     Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

     Dandelions persevere. They spring through cracks in the sidewalk and pop back up when they’re stepped on. Heat doesn’t deter them. Neither does cold. The soil can be rich or poor. The rain can come in buckets or not at all. Crowding is not a problem, but they don’t mind being alone. In all sorts of conditions, they don’t just live, they thrive.

     I pray one day my little sprouts will cook meals, cut hair, climb mountains and catch fly balls for the Lord with all their might. May adverse conditions never tempt them to give up on the dreams he places in their hearts. When they are stepped on by life may they pop back up. And when it seems they have nowhere to go, I pray they see a crack of light and grow through the broken places.  

     Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-3

     Dandelions are humble. If they were grown for their great beauty they would be reserved for those who could afford them. Instead, they’re available to the “least of these.” I’m convinced the Lord created dandelions just so children would have a flower no one would tell them not to pick.

     I pray my five and six year old seedlings grow up to fight fires, dance ballet, care for the sick and do things they haven’t yet dreamed of for those who are weak and vulnerable. May they be content to be considered a weed by the world if that is the best way to love the “least of these.”

     The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40

     Dandelions spread joy. Their sunny yellow faces brighten dreary days. Even folks who consider them a nuisance can’t help but smile when presented with a dandelion bouquet by a chubby-fisted toddler.

     Yet it’s when their vibrant color fades that dandelions spread the most joy. When all they have left is a bit of white fluff, and even that is barely hanging on, dandelions choose to spread seeds of joy by encouraging others to hope and dream.

     I pray the budding flowers in my class will learn to do the same. Years from now, on a day when they’re finding it hard to throw touchdown passes in the NFL and blast off into outer space, may they choose joy and not despair. When life has lost its color and they feel like they’re barely hanging on, may they discover the joy of trusting God and letting go. And may the seeds of that joy be carried by the Holy Spirit across the earth, encouraging a brand new crop of hopes and dreams.

    May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:12

     As I tend my garden of children, I’m still dreaming and growing right along with them. I haven’t solved many mysteries. Yet. But you never know what the future may bring. I’m hard at work on the case of “Why is there only one sock left in the dryer when I put two in?”

Detective work aside, I’m continually surprised by what my maker has for me to do. With each new adventure, I pray I sink my roots deeper, persevere longer, grow more humble and spread seeds of joy. In other words, I want to be a dandelion when I grow up.