Beauty in the middle of the weeds

A Zinnia has pushed its way up through the chaos and tangle of weeds that used to be a flower bed.  I thought they were all gone - choked out by neglect.  Yet, it was determined.  That beautiful flower.  Like a poignant reminder of God's grace.  God's ever present grace that always pushes through the chaos and tangled mess we call our lives.  His grace and beauty find their way up through the hard, neglected soil of our lives and then - life - real life - springs up.  Reminding.  Drawing.  Loving.  Making what once looked neglected have purpose.  Making even the weeds around it look lovely.

There it stands.  Defiant beauty.  Surrounded by weeds.  And I'm reminded (again) that is exactly how God sees me.  Defiant beauty.  Standing with weeds all around.  Yet He is at work to cultivate that beauty - His beauty - in me.  And I am grateful.