Lessons from a Sunflower
Day 11 – Made to Matter: 13 Soulful Stories from the Studio
The sunflower has always held a special kind of magic for me. It is more than a flower in the garden; it is a compass, a seeker of light, a teacher of resilience. When the clouds gather and storms sweep across the field, the sunflower still remembers where the sun will rise, and it keeps turning its face until the warmth returns. That, in itself, is a sermon.
This particular sunflower caught my eye not only because of its bright golden petals but because of the way it seemed to stand with such quiet confidence, rooted deeply yet reaching upward without hesitation. Its beauty wasn’t perfect — a few petals bent, edges worn — and yet, perhaps that is why I found it so striking. It didn’t need perfection to radiate joy. It simply needed to be.
I thought about the seasons of my own life where I felt bent at the edges, when grief, change, or uncertainty threatened to make me small. And yet, like this flower, there was always something within me that stretched toward the light. Sometimes the light came in the form of a kind word, sometimes through a creative spark, and often through the steady presence of those I love. Each became its own kind of sunshine, reminding me that growth is not only possible but inevitable when you remain open.
There is also something about the sunflower’s boldness — how it doesn’t shy away from being seen. In a field, it rises above, unapologetically vibrant, calling to bees, butterflies, and all who pass by. It is an invitation: to stand tall in your own way, to bring color and brightness into whatever patch of ground you’ve been given.
For me, this photo became more than just an image of a flower. It is a marker in this challenge, a reminder that each story we’ve walked through is like a petal — fragile, unique, and necessary to the whole bloom. Together, they form something radiant. Together, they turn toward the light.
And so, as I look at this sunflower, I am reminded of the simplest, truest thing: joy is not chased, it is received. We are not made to constantly strive, but to open, unfold, and let the light do its work. Like the sunflower, may we remain rooted and radiant, always turning toward what gives life.
Thought to Carry
Even in the shadowed places, your spirit knows where the light is. Trust its pull, and you will find yourself turning toward hope again and again.
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” — Walt Whitman
“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.” — Psalm 36:9 NKJV
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