Dobson: Sometimes we channel weeds, not daffodils

In “Our Daily Bread,” a mother shares her take on Easter with her son.

link Patti Dobson

She writes that her son waded into a patch of daffodils and notices debris from plants that had died months back.

He said, “Mom, when I see something dead, it reminds me of Easter because Jesus died on the cross.”

She replied back, “When I see something alive — like the daffodils — it reminds me that Jesus came back to life.”

The imagery of this really struck me. I wondered, where am I on the flower-weed continuum? Am I a daffodil or a weed? Am I a sign of life, or a dried up, crusty, dusty weed?

In all honesty, I am probably some of each.

When faced with unpleasant or unkind words, difficult situations or speed bumps on our life journey, it’s easier to react from a place of hurt or anger than to respond in love and kindness.

Recently on Facebook, I read a friend’s post about seeing “friendships destroyed, family relationships strained, and even strangers attacking each other” in a culture of meanness.

Rather than social media being, well social, we have a platform for anger and hate. Sadly, this isn’t restricted to social media; it’s all around us.

My heart longs to be a daffodil rather than a weed. Good intentions and all that.

In recent weeks when I’ve slipped into “weed mode,” I repeat to myself, “I’m a daffodil, I’m a daffodil.” Sometimes it works; other times, well, I’m a daffodil in progress.

We all make choices. Some good, some not so good. In a recent sermon, I said that it isn’t hard to make the choice to be more Christ-like; but, it isn’t always easy to behave Christ-like.

Even though I will say over and over, “Be the daffodil, be the daffodil,” I will, at times, channel the weed. And when I do, I’ll ask for forgiveness, dust off my “weediness,” and choose, again, to be a daffodil.

Patti Dobson writes about faith for the Portales News-Tribune. Contact her at:

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