The Dandelion

Mark was looking out the window at the front yard.

He saw dandelions by the thousands!

“Hey dad?” asked Mark

“Why is our yard filled with weeds?” asked the young boy.

“Weeds, what weeds?” asked his father.

“All those dandelions, look, the whole yard is full of them.”

His dad came to stand beside him and they looked out at the yard together.

“Hmmm,” said his dad, “yes, I see dandelions,

but what are the weeds you are talking about?”

“Dad, dandelions are weeds, everyone knows that.”

Mark’s dad answered, “I am not so sure God would call them that.

I think He sees them very differently."

Mark wasn’t so sure.

He said, “but dad, they are ugly!”

“Ugly, really?” said his father.

“Your little sister picks them for Mom

because she thinks they are bright and pretty,

and Mom always puts them in water,

and both of them always admire how they brighten up the kitchen, don’t they?”

Yes, Mark had to admit it was true.

“Ok, I guess they are not that bad.”

His dad smiled and said, “ you know Mark, they are very nutritious

too.”

“What, you mean we eat them?” exclaimed the astonished boy.

“No, as far as I know your mom hasn’t picked any for salad, but maybe we should!” laughed Father.

“God has given us free food right here in our yard.”

“And not only that Mark, have you ever seen how long a dandelion root is?”

“They are very long.”

“And if you leave just a small piece of the root in the ground the plant will grow back.

I really believe God is showing us that this is how our faith should be, even when bad things happen to knock our faith down, we will grow back strong as ever.”

“Mark, look over there, some have gone seed.

From one plant, look how many new baby plants will be carried on the wind.”

“I like to blow on them, they are so puffy!” said Mark

“Well, you are a good helper,” chuckled Father.

“The Bible calls the Holy Spirit "a Wind",

and when God brings His Word into our hearts,

we grow to fullness, like a dandelion gone to seed,

and His seed will be carried to many more

hearts by the Holy Spirit.”

Mark was awed by the power of his dad’s words.

Who would have ever thought a little plant would have such a huge meaning.

“There is more, son,” said his father.

“You know that those of us that believe that Jesus is God, that He came to die for our sin

and that if we ask Him, He will come into our hearts, and we will be with Him forevermore, well compared to the whole world there are not that many of us.”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with dandelions, Father?” asked Mark.

“Look at it this way, son, the grass is the world and the dandelion is the believer,” said Father “there are some groups of dandelions here and there, some are alone, but they all stand out against the grass, they are easy to see because of their bright yellow flower.”

“Oh yes father, I can see that too!” said Mark.

“So you see, son, our yard is not full weeds is it?” asked Father.

“No Father, not at all,” said Mark, “and I want to be a dandelion in the grass too, Father.”

“You already are my son, you already are.” said Father.

So, father and son never looked at their dandelions the same ever again.

Matthew Abrahams and Angelica Rockwell