Coco Calling No.260 - The Wisdom of Sunflowers

I’ve often written about how my owner likes to grow things. In the back garden, it’s mainly fruit and vegetables, but out in the front, he likes to create a traditional cottage garden effect with all kinds of different flowers. And the ones which always catch my eye are his sunflowers. I suppose that’s because they are big, bold and bright, just like parrots! But there’s a bit more to sunflowers than just a large, showy bloom. For as their name suggests, they like to focus in on the sun, so that the flowers actually turn to follow its path throughout the day. And even on cloudy days, when it may be raining or the wind is shaking the plants right down to their roots, they still make the effort to turn to face the brightest patch of sky. It's as though they have the wisdom to know what’s good for them.

And I reckon that we can all learn a valuable lesson from sunflowers. Because life becomes so much easier if we focus in on what really matters, rather than on all of our trials and tribulations. And that means we should be focussing on the other type of ‘son,’ -Jesus, -on a daily basis. For any wise parrot will tell you that whatever consumes our minds, controls our lives. Jesus should be an eternal source of joy for every one of us, so that our faces turn towards Him every day. And when we absorb and experience that joy, we can radiate it out to others. For then we can preach to them without opening our mouths. Because just like those sunflowers, our faith makes us bright, vibrant, joyful and strong!

“Our life must be centred on what is essential, on Jesus Christ. Everything else is secondary.” (Pope Francis: [1936 – present]: Current leader of the Roman Catholic Church)

“Even when it feels as if we are being crushed by earthly troubles, we can remain joyful. If we keep our focus on God and Jesus, our spirit cannot be trampled.”

(Dr. Mary C. Neal: [D. of B. unknown – present]: American orthopaedic surgeon who became a bestselling author after writing about her own near-death experience)

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

(C.S. Lewis: [1989-1963]: Northern Irish writer, Christian author, scholar, academic and Anglican lay theologian)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”

(Hebrews 12: 2a)