Rhizanthella Gardneri
RHIZANTHELLA GARDNERI
Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5.
“Dad, are you in here?”
“Back here with the orchids, Joel,” Dad answered. Joel plodded to the back of the greenhouse where his father was patting down the soil in a flowerpot. “Well, how was your first day at Mr. Callaway’s store?” asked Dad.
“Terrible,” said Joel. “I worked hard. And all Mr. Callaway said was, ‘You can stack those cans better. You missed some dirt. You didn’t put enough paint on the brush.’ I was mad.”
“I know he can be gruff,” said Dad. “But I hope you were polite anyway. You can be a witness for the Lord by your attitude, you know.”
Joel looked glum. “You can be like the Rhizanthella gardneri,” added Dad.
“The what?” gasped Joel.
Dad laughed. “That’s the scientific name for an all-white orchid from Australia. The orchid spends its whole life underground, except when it pokes its pod above the ground to empty out its seeds.” Dad took the flowerpot he had been working with and asked Joel to follow him into a dark room. Digging carefully, Joel’s father pointed to a small, white flower under the soil.
“Neat!” Joel said. “But what does my working for Mr. Callaway have to do with that?”
“You can be like the white orchid by poking your head above Mr. Callaway’s gruffness and spreading Christian seeds of kindness, patience, and love,” explained Dad. “You can serve the Lord by serving Mr. Callaway. In time he’s almost sure to notice. Even more important, God sees. He’s the one who really matters.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you stay kind, loving, and thoughtful even when it seems you’re not appreciated? Your actions and attitudes are an important part of your witness for the Lord. Don’t look for the praise of people. Instead, look for God’s future praise of, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”
TO MEMORIZE:
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:16
WITNESS THROUGH YOUR ATTITUDE.
From the book
