dandelion season

I love dandelions.

Whenever my kids are asked what their moms favorite flower is they reply a dandelion :)

Often people say that it is not a flower, it's a weed;

and my brainwashed kids reply that if I (their mom) were a flower I would be a dandelion...

why? because they grow wherever they are planted, no matter what,

even in the cement.

...even in the hard parts of life,

even with all the critics out there.

"the flower that blooms in adversity

is the most beautiful flower of all"

I love the dandelions because like the sunflower follows the Sun the dandelion opens when the sun shines and close when the sun sets.

It reminds me of Christ and how we need to be open to Him.

The Son...shines,

and without Him...

well, we are closed off

and alone

and lonely

and may as well be just a weed.

And that is a really important part of it for me.

I think we need to remember not to judge.

Why do people think a dandelion is a weed...? ...because all their lives they are told that...but what is most often the first flower a child runs open armed to a mother---a grandmother...a friend, an aunt---the dandelion!

My kids have given them to the widows, the elderly, the lonely....me :)

Next time you see it look at the face of the person receiving the gift...they don't see a weed, they feel a love.

And, what brings childhood greater joy than spreading happiness and cheer in blowing the seeds of a dandelion. Share the love....plant more LOVE!!

AND Dandelions are actually very useful and valuable!!!

Anyhow, I am sure there is more to it for me; ... it is one of the signs of Spring, and warmth coming, and that is one of the parts I love most about the Dandelion. Seeing them makes me smile.

I love how there is never just one, there are always bunches of them together, making the world colorful.

They let the wind blow there wherever and wherever they lay root they grow in abundance,

until a little child pulls one up and runs gleefully to give a gift to another.

Try it...pick one and hand it to a stranger on the street. Tell them to have a cheerful day. They will never see a dandelion again without thinking of that moment.

A random act of kindness, in one of the simplest ways.

I also love how stubborn they are. Makes me laugh that people try so hard to uproot them, and poison them, and individually attack them. I smirk happily when they just keep blooming! The world tries so hard to uproot us, to poison us, and attack the individual...so YIPPEE for the ONE that keeps on going even in the tiny crack of cement that at time is how life feels!

Each part of the dandelion has purpose...look closely at the petals, they are grooved and funnel rain water to the roots. Also, each part of the dandelion has a use, for upset stomaches to healing elements.

I think the abundance of dandelions also reminds me of how much our Heavenly Father wants to bless us, and reminds me of how often we overlook the blessings that are right in front of us because we don't recognize them as such....we see a weed vs. a flower :/

Really fun to think about how I feel about this very beautiful little piece of God's love!

WEB INFO on the Dandelion:

While many people think of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) as a pesky weed, herbalists consider it a valuable herb that can be used as a food and medicine. Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion leaves are used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas. The roots are used in some coffee substitutes, and the flowers are used to make wines.

Traditionally, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. Native Americans also boiled dandelion in water and took it to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and upset stomach. In traditional Chinese medicine, dandelion has been used to treat stomach problems, appendicitis, and breast problems, such as inflammation or lack of milk flow. In Europe, it was used in remedies for fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea.

Remember....the pesky weed is really a valuable herb.

Its all in how we perceive it!