by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
I did not expect to find a sermon beneath a magnolia tree today.
The fourth graders were enjoying recess during Vacation Bible School, and like any sensible Georgian in June, I was searching for shade. I wandered beneath the broad canopy of a magnolia tree and settled into its shadow while the children laughed and played nearby.
What I found there stopped me in my tracks.
Nestled among the glossy green leaves were some of the most beautiful magnolia blooms I have ever seen. Their creamy white petals seemed almost too perfect to be real. One blossom after another peeked through the branches as if the Lord Himself had carefully arranged them for display.
As children ran across the playground, I pulled out my phone and began taking pictures.
The longer I stood there, the more I marveled.
I marveled at the intricate petals. I marveled at the rich green leaves. I marveled at the way the sunlight filtered through the branches. Most of all, I marveled at the creativity of a God who could have made flowers merely functional but instead chose to make them beautiful.
Almost immediately, the words of Jesus came to mind:
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow…” (Matthew 6:28, ESV).
Jesus often pointed His listeners toward creation. He told them to look at the birds. He told them to look at the flowers. He invited them to pay attention to the ordinary things around them because those ordinary things reveal extraordinary truths about the Father.
Standing beneath that magnolia tree, I realized I was doing exactly what Jesus instructed. I was considering the flowers.
Yet as I admired God’s handiwork, another thought quietly settled into my heart.
If God took such care with these blooms, how much more has He considered me?
The magnolia did not create itself. The petals did not arrange themselves. The tree did not decide where it would grow. Every detail reflected the care of its Creator.
Psalm 8 asks a question that has echoed through the centuries:
“What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4, ESV).
I suspect most of us have asked that question at some point. In a world that often feels busy, loud, and overwhelming, it is easy to wonder whether God sees us at all. It is easy to feel overlooked in the middle of responsibilities, worries, and unanswered questions.
Yet beneath that magnolia tree, I was reminded that He does.
The same God who painted those blooms white knew exactly where I would stand that morning. He knew I needed a moment to slow down. He knew I needed beauty. He knew I needed wonder. He knew I needed a reminder that I am seen.
While I was considering the magnolias, the Lord gently reminded me that He had already considered me.
What a gift.
What a kindness.
What a wonderful God.
Perhaps that is why creation so often draws our eyes upward. It reminds us that we are not forgotten. The God who clothes the fields with beauty and fills the trees with blossoms is the same God who knows our names, numbers our days, and lovingly watches over His children.
I stepped beneath that magnolia tree looking for shade.
Instead, I found a reminder of the Father’s care.
Reflection
How often do we rush past the reminders God has placed around us?
We live in a culture that celebrates busyness. Our schedules are full. Our minds are crowded. Our attention is divided. Yet Jesus intentionally directed His followers to slow down long enough to consider the birds and the flowers. Why? Because creation reveals something about the heart of its Creator.
The magnolia blooms did not solve any of my problems that morning. They did not answer every question I have been carrying. However, they reminded me of something I desperately needed to remember: God sees me.
If the Father notices every petal, every leaf, and every bloom, then surely He has not overlooked His children. The same God who designed the magnolia tree with such beauty and care knows exactly where you are today. He sees your burdens, your prayers, your waiting, and your worries.
Perhaps today the Lord is inviting you to slow down long enough to notice His handiwork and remember that you are part of it.
Challenge
Spend fifteen minutes outside this week without your phone, agenda, or to-do list.
Observe God’s creation. Notice the details. Watch the birds. Examine a flower. Sit beneath a tree. Ask the Lord what He wants to show you about Himself through what He has made.
Then ask yourself: If God cares for these things so beautifully, how much more does He care for me?
Scripture Study
Matthew 6:26-30 (ESV)
“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them… Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow…”
Psalm 8:3-4 (ESV)
“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers… what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?”
Psalm 19:1 (ESV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for the reminders of Your love that surround us each day. Forgive me for the times I rush past Your handiwork without stopping to notice. Open my eyes to see Your beauty in creation and Your faithfulness in my life. When I feel overlooked, remind me that I am fully known and fully loved by You. Help me to slow down, pay attention, and marvel at the works of Your hands. Thank You for considering me long before I ever considered the flowers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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The Aging English Major 