Signs

Big Bren and I have been going through a personal trial these past few weeks.  As a sort of last resort for me, I decided to PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens).  For weeks, I have gotten down on my knees every day and prayed -- not necessarily for a favorable resolution -- but for God's will to be done and for peace to accept whatever that may be.

In the natural, I didn't see anything happening.  However, for the past few weeks -- almost since this matter cropped up to aggravate us -- a plant started growing outside our door.  It began like a weed and although we have been outside many times pulling weeds, we were reluctant to pluck it, so we let it grow.  And grow it did; by last night, it was almost as tall as Brendan.  Still, we left it alone.

This morning, Big Bren and I got up to get Brendan ready for his first day of school.  As we walked out to put him on the bus, we saw that our botanical visitor had revealed itself:

It is a sunflower.  And not just any sunflower -- a giant, towering sunflower.  A sunflower that we did not plant.  A giant sunflower that bloomed in September, when all other flowers have called it a day.  A flower whose symbolism is that of positivity and light.

I don't know if God answers prayers the way we want them to be answered, but no one can say that She doesn't listen.