Blow That Bugle! – Look, See, Pray

Not every plant in the garden has to be dramatic. “Celebrity” plants are undoubtedly spectacular.

Some garden inhabitants are quite unassuming little things that fill a valuable place. Meet “Ajuga reptans,” often known as Common Bugle. (Photo)

Ajuga likes shady spots. The exact places where the expensive and flashy don’t thrive. Ajuga is great at crowding out nasty weeds that might otherwise take over and invade. Looked at closely, the bright blue flowers and multi-coloured foliage are actually rather attractive.

It isn’t high maintenance: and it’s cheap to buy! Just £1 each from my local greengrocer who sells a nice selection of bedding plants and ground cover.

Actually, Ajuga sounds ideal for problem free gardening!

I’ve known people in churches who are like this. They don’t blow their own bugle, they just get on with being useful, kind, and good to know. Never hogging the limelight, not anxious or ambitious, just genuine servant-hearted blessings.

Thank God for such plants AND such people. They are worthy of loving appreciation- and even if they’re not “celebrities” in this life, they will be richly rewarded by the Lord who sees even the small things born from a loving soul. I started thinking about the ones who do or have blessed me… and I am so, so grateful for them. Names are pouring out of my memory now- friends, colleagues, family- and there are others I can’t put names and faces too. Yet I know they have supported, encouraged, served, and been a HUGE blessing from their quiet and shady corners.

Some of them would be embarrassed to think I might include them on my “loving list” because they honestly don’t think they’ve done much. But God knows. One day perhaps I will be able to thank them properly!

“God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you. – 1 Peter 5 v5-7