Dandelions

A brief exposition on Matthew 6: 28-29

 

"Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Weeds are all in the eye (and heart) of the beholder. Let me submit for your consideration the lowly dandelion.  Was there ever a more beautiful yellow, a more deliciously luscious green? What a feast for the eyes!

 

And yet, our culture considers the dandelion to be a pest plant; not merely useless, but something to be eradicated. *sigh* Useless? Every part (excepting the seed puffball) of the dandelion is edible.  The greens cleaned and steamed or boiled are not only tasty but highly nutritious.  The root, after cleaning, peeling and then blanching, boiling or roasting is also highly nutritious and useful in many ways. And even the yellow bloom is nutritious and a treat for both the eye and the tastebuds in salads.

 

And what can I say of dandelion wine?

 

:-)

 

And, as much as our society spends to eradicate this nutritious food and lovely flowering plant, it thrives in spite of all the poisons thown its way.  And have you ever attempted to pull a dandelion to get rid of the "weed"?  Unless you get every last piece of the root, it's more than likely to simply grow back.

 

Lilies of the field? Nah. 

 

"Consider the dandelions how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

 

Consider these parallels to the Christian life that penetrate a tad deeper than we might think of lilies' simple dependence on God's provision for the glory of their raiment. The perseverance of the dandelion is a quality much to be admired... and emulated. ("Weary not in well-doing... " Gal: 6:6 ff.) Their very real beauty is despised by the world. ("For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish; to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life." 2Cor 2:15-16) And on, and on--the dandelion's usefulness: despised; the dandelion's persistance: persecuted *s*; and yet they raise their puffball heads above the fields to be cut down... and in dying, spread themselves even further afield.

 

See this post in a slightly different light at third world county