Thunderstorms, Dahlias & Stewardship
- Debra Flaming
- Sep 10
- 2 min read
Today I was out in the field, taking photographs and videos of the dahlias in bloom. The light was just right, the colors were radiant—and then a thunderstorm rolled in. Raindrops began to fall, disrupting my plans. At first, I felt the interruption. But as I hurried indoors, I realized God was offering me a gentle reminder: I am not the one in control. I make my lists, set my goals, and work hard to accomplish them, but ultimately it is His plans that matter most.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” — Proverbs 19:21
Inside, as I reflected, I asked myself—what do I really have to do with creating this breathtaking beauty in the field? The truth? Very little. Dion and I simply tucked a tuber into the soil, and even that tuber already contained the genetic code for what would become a magnificent flower. We watered. We weeded. But the sunshine, the air, the wind, the rain, the pollinators—all of those conditions for life are beyond our control.
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6
The truth is, we don’t own any of this. We are not the creators of life. We are merely stewards of what belongs to the Creator. Even our very bodies are not our own, but His.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” — Psalm 24:1
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
The storm today was more than rain. It was a lesson in humility. A reminder that life itself—its length, its conditions, its beauty—is in God’s hands, not mine.
And it left me asking: how well am I stewarding the resources He has entrusted to me? How am I using the gifts of time, creation, and even my body to bring honor and glory to the One who made it all?
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31
Every act, great or small, is an opportunity to glorify Him. From planting a tuber to photographing a bloom to weathering an unexpected storm, all of it points me back to the Creator—the true owner of every good and perfect gift.
As I conclude this blog post, I am reminded that life itself is not mine to control. Each bloom in the field, every drop of rain, every breath I take belongs to the One who created it. My role is one of stewardship—faithfully tending what He has entrusted to me and offering it back in gratitude and praise. May we never forget that our days, our gifts, and even our gardens are opportunities to glorify the Lord who makes all things grow.
Humbled,
Debra Flaming
