This year I decided to try something new for my front‑door planters: fake flowers. Honestly, they looked so real that even I forgot they weren’t alive. The advertisement promised they wouldn’t fade in the sun or droop in the rain—perfect for someone like me who loves beauty but not the constant upkeep real flowers demand.
Last Thursday, as my Bible study ladies began arriving, I got my confirmation. One after another, they admired the planters and assumed the flowers were real. One friend even said she wanted to use the idea at our church where sunlight is scarce. I stood there feeling quite pleased with myself.
But then something unexpected happened.
As I stepped back to admire my handiwork, a tiny hummingbird zipped toward the planter. My husband nudged me and whispered, “Hon, look at that.” The little bird hovered, dipped its beak into one flower, then another, then another—searching for nectar that wasn’t there. After several attempts, it finally flew away empty.
That moment stayed with me.
It was a quiet knock on the door of my heart, reminding me how often something looks real, looks beautiful, looks nourishing, yet leaves us disappointed when we finally taste it. How many times have we hovered around something—or someone—because it appeared to offer what we longed for, only to discover it was hollow?
Sometimes it’s not the thing that’s fake. Sometimes we are.
Have you ever had someone be too nice to you? Too many compliments, too many invitations, too much attention? Something in your spirit feels off, and you want to pull away. Or—if we’re honest—have you ever been the one doing that?
I have.
Years ago, I was in a Sunday school class taught by the pastor’s wife. She was an incredible teacher, and I admired her deeply. I wanted her to like me, so I complimented her often. One day she looked at me kindly and said, “Betty, you flatter me too much.”
Her words stunned me. I thought I was simply being nice. But when I examined my heart, I saw the truth: it wasn’t admiration—it was flattery. I wanted approval. I wanted connection. I wanted her to think well of me.
Paul’s words in Galatians suddenly felt very personal:
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10
Flattery is fake. And fake is rooted in pride.
Thankfully, she was mature enough to recognize the difference and loving enough to tell me. And because of that honesty, we eventually became true friends—real friends—rooted in sincerity, not performance. To this day, when we see each other, that sister‑in‑the‑Lord bond is still there.
That hummingbird reminded me: God never flatters us. He never offers fake nectar. He never pretends. He lovingly tears away what is false so we can see our hearts clearly—even when it stings.
And I’m grateful.
Because real relationships, real growth, and real faith can only flourish in the soil of truth.
No comments:
Post a Comment