My friend had dropped off a little orchid plant for me. It’s so tiny, the vase and plant only stand seven inches tall.

I’ve never bought orchids for myself before, so I was amazed seeing how the petals just stay open and don’t fall off like they do on peonies or roses I usually get.

“Look, guys!” I said to my husband and two boys, eleven and fourteen. “I’ve never seen flowers blooms last so long!”

“Are you sure it’s real?” my husband said, taking a closer look. “It’s too perfect.”

“Yeah!” my two boys chimed in. They went over to gently touch the plant to confirm it. “The petals . . . the stem . . . too smooth. It’s plastic!”

“No,” I protested. “They’re real!” But to no avail. They boys were convinced it was fake.

I looked closer and finally found something to prove these orchids were, in fact, living and organic. “Look here,” I pointed to a spot on one leaf that wasn’t so easily seen. “It’s nicked here. You see, it is real. They would never put a flaw in something fake they would sell.”

The flaw was proof that it was indeed real.

Let’s remind ourselves of this truth. Because when I bump up against my worries, anxieties, or imperfections, which are showing up often during these extreme shelter-in-place conditions, I can forget that God makes beautiful things out of us.

God doesn’t call us to sell a fake gospel but to tell a living, organic story of how we are loved just as we are. Our flaws bring us closer to others who need to know that God is with us in the brokenness and even in our hiding.

I recently visited the party store to get some balloons for my son’s birthday. His party was canceled due to COVID-19, and I wanted to do something to cheer him up.

When I got to the store, there was no one there except for the young woman behind the counter. I asked her what colors she’d recommend for “instant happy,” and as we picked some together, I asked how she was doing with the coronavirus challenges and what helped her to feel better.

“I love to read,” she said. She shared how she was reading The Diary of Anne Frank, and when I asked why, she answered, “She inspires me because she chose to live with hope, hiding for years though she was facing death everyday.”

I sensed a story behind her words, so I shared something vulnerable, something that once made me feel flawed. “You know, I’m not Anne Frank, but I do understand hiding… to be continued on (in)courage where I’m posting today…

To read the rest today’s blog post, click here to join me at DaySpring’s (in)courage, where today’s blog post is published. Join me there and share a comment. I’d love your company!

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 Soul Care Tip: 10 min Walk with God Boosts Your Mood and Lowers Anxiety & Depression

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This video was taken on my morning trail to cheer you on with a soul care tip. Research shows taking is walk is instantly healing and therapeutic for your body and emotions. Confide in God as you walk. Or simply enjoy the quietness and receive from Him. Prayer isn’t always talking to God, but simply being refreshed by Him, through the beauty He creates for you!

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Whispers of Rest Soul Care Package

I’d love to encourage you daily! For extra resources to refresh your soul and take better care of yourself, I created this powerful DAILY companion resource to Whispers of Rest:  40day Soul Care Guide eBook called “You’re Worth Loving”, 6 teaching videos, 6 prayer podcasts, and Scripture coloring pages! Click here to get the Whispers of Rest Soul Care Resources Package!

love,