photo by Anja Jonsson

When I was a little girl I used to think dandelions were nature’s flowers; it was only as an adult I came to know they are actually weeds.

This comes to mind every time I receive a bouquet of dandelions from the children in my care; do I dare tell them that “nature’s flower” is actually a disguise for nutrient sucking weeds growing among the green grass as an unwelcome guest?

I usually don’t tell them; I marvel at how I wouldn’t have known any different if someone hadn’t told me.  At times, I have told the older more mature children that as beautiful as these yellow flowers appear, they are actually weeds. If there are too many of them, they don’t allow healthy grass to grow.

Don’t we all have dandelions in our life?  No, I’m not talking about yellow flowers growing on our lawn. I mean, in life as we are trying to live joyfully and peacefully; trying to raise our children to be virtuous and pure. We constantly run into those dandelions (people, sources, and messages) that at first appear beautiful, attractive and alluring – good enough to keep, collect, and give away. At first we may not realize they are actually threatening to take over our good efforts.  They will suck up the nutrients we need to cultivate this soil where good grass should be growing.

These dandelions do serve a purpose. They are a reminder to us that we cannot become complacent, as we care for our lawns or for our souls, or the souls of our children.  These dandelions force us to actively pursue what is good and true; to nurture the good and pluck out what is endangering our efforts to gain and maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Like that little girl, I once was or like the children who hand me bouquets of dandelions we all need the help of trustworthy, well formed, mature souls to help us in recognizing what is true beauty and what is a weed disguised as a dandelion.

That is our job as we pass down the faith to our children – to be sure they are aware that just because something appears attractive and alluring does not make it good; evil will present itself as a good.

We must look at the root to see how it is really affecting us and the lives of those around us. It’s as if each of us are a blade of grass, soaking in the good soil, the warm sun, the refreshing water among the dandelions that while threatening will not prevail if we are vigilant, responsible and actively seeking that which is best for all of us.

Tima can be found writing at Living Water.

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