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Blessings That Grow In The Dark

By Bonnie Gray • August 20, 2010 • 23 Comments

“Do not despise the first season of growth for anything in your life.”  ~  Tammy Maltby

I didn’t know that onions grew in the dark until I pulled one sprouting flowers out of my pantry closet.

 

My husband humorously shakes his head, watching me lug a big bag of onions from Costco into our home.  It seems odd to buy them in bulk when we’re just two adults, a preschooler and a baby.

Hey, I love stir fry.  I throw whole bulbs of this stuff into everything.  I’m also pretty sure I’ve got some Italian in me, because I can’t get enough onions in my pasta either.

But when I first caught a pungent whiff of something smelly from the closet, I realized I hadn’t finished off the 10 lbs of red onions in time.

I needed to destroy the evidence.

I held my breath, yanked the sack out of the closet, and ran them down the garbage disposal.

I sprayed Mountain-Spring-scented Oust! to get rid of any odors.

“There! …Hubby will never know.”

As I shut the door, one onion had rolled out of the sack and escaped to find its home in the corner of my closet.

There it grew, until one day, I wondered why my closet was smelling so bad each time I went to grab a snack…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

…To read the rest of my story and see what happened next — click here and jump over to DaySpring’s (In)Courage website, where today’s post is published.

Share a comment there – I’d love your company.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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23 Comments

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23 Comments

  • Reply Lynne August 20, 2010 at 12:28 am

    What a wonderful gift you have – to take something as mundane as an onion falling out of your cupboard, and be able to relate it so beautifully to our lives. I always enjoy your posts.

    And DON’T those hidden onions smell BAD!!!
    .-= Lynne´s last blog ..A Day in the Sunshine =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 21, 2010 at 8:41 am

      SO BAD! 🙂 Thanks, Lynne!

  • Reply David@Red letter Believers August 20, 2010 at 4:57 am

    BG — Misconceptions and blessings, both growing in the dark. I love it.
    It seems in my life that the rotten onions have been growing a plenty, especially as i pull them out of the dark. I’ve been ‘sweeping the corners” of my life, and have found both.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 21, 2010 at 8:42 am

      “I have found both” .. the beauty of the spiritual life… no defense needed, simply favored, right along with the onions.

  • Reply Stephanie August 20, 2010 at 4:59 am

    Hi Bonnie

    Thanks for writing the reminder bout how God is working in our lives even when we can’t see what the big picture is yet. Our job is to keep trusting and obeying Him.This post encouraged me and I know it will bless others too!

    Joyfully
    Stephanie

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 21, 2010 at 8:42 am

      Love it. Thanks, Stephanie!

  • Reply Kathy August 20, 2010 at 6:00 am

    Bonnie…when I read this at {InCourage} I didn’t know it was by you until the end…and as I was reading I was so enjoying it and relating to it that I smiled inside when I realized it was you. No wonder, it seemed so familiar. 😉

    Thanks…

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 21, 2010 at 8:43 am

      🙂 Thanks, Kathy!

  • Reply Diana August 20, 2010 at 6:55 am

    Thanks so much for such a terrific reminder that we really do not need to know God’s plan, but should simply trust He has everything under His control.

    Coming into a new season myself, Jeremiah 29:11 has been a tremendous anchoring reminder of God’s plan to bless me and give me, as The Message puts it, the future I hope for.

    Blessings of walking in The Way today, covered by His grace and mercy, trusting His love..
    ~ diana

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 21, 2010 at 8:45 am

      “Blessings of walking in The Way today” … I’ll take it, Diane! Jeremiah 29:11 is a wonderful encouragement. Thank you!

  • Reply Tweets that mention Blessings That Grow In The Dark | Faith Barista -- Topsy.com August 20, 2010 at 7:35 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Glynn Young, FaithBarista. FaithBarista said: New Post — Blessings That Grow In The Dark http://bit.ly/9dHI1J What a bag of onions taught me… […]

  • Reply Twitted by TheBonnieGray August 20, 2010 at 8:41 am

    […] This post was Twitted by TheBonnieGray […]

  • Reply Debbie August 20, 2010 at 11:41 am

    Great post and things to think about. I commented on the Dayspring site Bonnie.
    .-= Debbie´s last blog ..Exercise and Energy =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 21, 2010 at 8:46 am

      Thanks, Debbie!

  • Reply Kristine McGuire August 21, 2010 at 11:56 am

    Awesome story Bonnie 😀
    .-= Kristine McGuire´s last blog ..Book Review The Prophecy Answer Book =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 23, 2010 at 5:13 pm

      Thanks, Kristine!

  • Reply Charissa Steyn August 23, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    Loved this… really needed it! I love what you said, “The process God primarily uses to produce spiritual fruit is often slower and more invisible than we’d like.” Thanks for the encouragement!
    .-= Charissa Steyn´s last blog ..Were Expecting! =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 23, 2010 at 5:14 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Charissa!

  • Reply Amanda August 23, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    Great post Bonnie- love coming here for a little though provocation.
    .-= Amanda´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Mom! =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 23, 2010 at 5:14 pm

      Thanks for taking the time, Amanda!

  • Reply Sandra Heska King August 24, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    Heading over there . . .
    .-= Sandra Heska King´s last blog ..In the Yearning and the Wrestling =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray August 25, 2010 at 1:39 pm

      Thanks for the company, Sandra!

  • Reply Katie August 25, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    I am so behind in reading, but reading this now, WOW. Amazing. I loved this analogy. Blessings growing in the dark times….. yes, I can see that looking back.

    What is hidden in closets are the hardest things to talk about with others. But sharing those secrets with God and others is the most healing thing in the world.
    .-= Katie´s last blog ..Retreat =-.

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