Lessons from a Hydrangea

​One of my favorite summer-flowering shrubs is the Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). The large, round, showy flower heads are made up of clusters of small individual flowers. It has always been fascinating to me that we can change the color of the flowers by treating the soil with different kinds of fertilizer. The pH of the soil, or its acidity or alkalinity, is measured by a scale from zero to fourteen. Seven is the number of a neutral pH. When the soil pH changes by one point there is an increase or decrease of ten degrees. Soil solubility of nutrients impacts the health of a plant.
 
In the case of the hydrangea, if you prefer blue flowers, the soil pH must be reduced by adding aluminum sulfate to it. As the plant absorbs the aluminum, its flowers will begin to turn blue. If you prefer pink flowers, lime should be added to the soil to make it more alkaline. I see a Biblical principle here: What we take in impacts our output. That is why it is so important for us "consume" the Word of God.
 
A few weekends ago, friends cut some beautiful blue hydrangeas from their garden and brought them to us as a gift. I was so thrilled with the clear blue color that I wanted the flowers to last as long as possible. I know that the key to sustainability of any flower placed in water is its ability to continue taking it in. I cut the flower stems at an angle so there would be a maximum absorption area. Then, I made it a point to change the water and recut the stems daily. My efforts gave me great reward as our flowers lasted for three weeks.
 
Each time I cut the stems so that they did not harden off I realized that God was using my exercise to teach me a spiritual principle. The primary Scripture He brought to my mind comes from Psalm 95:7 to 8. "He is our God, and we are the people of HIs pasture, the flock under His care. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert." This passage refers to the time after the Israelites had been miraculously delivered from Egypt yet began to grumble about their lack of water. The Lord told Moses to strike a rock with his staff and water poured forth.
 
What we need to know about this situation is that God was testing the faith of the Israelites. He does this to confirm the strength of our faith and the degree of our commitment to Him. He selected a place named Massah, meaning testing, and Meribah, meaning quarreling, for this encounter. (Exodus 17:7) Isn't this fitting? The Israelites failed the test, but God would use His test as a reminder of His faithfulness in the future. Proverbs 28:14 tells us, "Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble."
 
When we harden our hearts, we cannot take in the spiritual blessing that God has for us. He wants us to stay soft and pliable so that we can take in all that He has for us. Let us remember the example of the lovely blue hydrangeas to keep ourselves open to the flow of the Holy Spirit who wants to fill us with amazing nutrients.