A Helpful Weed

Source: youtube.com
The stretch of young green is dotted with yellow
swaying in the gentle Spring breeze.      
It’s May, the month of dancing dandelions,
not a blemish on a manicured lawn.

They’ve crept into the flower beds
and tension is born
good or bad,
uproot, or admire the “weed?”
but Jesus allows both to grow*
weeds and wheat until harvest time.

Stop. This persistent perennial
is not a pesky plant
waiting to be sprayed.
It beams with benefits for
skin and bone,
cancer and anemia and much more…
so they say.

I too am a mixed bag of saint and sinner
imperfect
humbly accepting messy me,
waiting for the gardener
to prune back
what could mar my soul
and damage my spirit.  

The Romans delighted in dandelion salads
the Celts in dandelion brews.
As I sip on “weed” tea or wine
my spiritual diet is enhanced
by the vitamins of God’s love
and patient waiting.

Puffball in hand
I blow kisses of love
into the swirling air
knowing well
I can’t outdo God in generosity.

+++++++++++++++++

*Matthew 13:30



 

Viola Athaide, a student of Theology, is actively involved in parish life, leading Bible courses, the Prayer Group, and the Ministry with Maturing Adults.

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17 Comments
  • Lorella D'Cruz
    Posted at 04:48h, 05 July Reply

    As usual, meaningful and beautifully expressed!

  • graeme quinlan
    Posted at 06:13h, 05 July Reply

    The Dandelion OH the Dandelion, what such a beautiful simple little plant . How it can be seen as a nuisance in the garden. but it has such a delicate little flower that can be used for many soothing concoctions for our welfare. So why would you want to rid it from your garden.May we always take more time to appreciate the little gifts that are given us by God. Remembering that it is from the little things that big things grow. US .

  • Karen Arthurs
    Posted at 09:17h, 05 July Reply

    A great life analogy for the shadows we may not knowingly project, like the puffball, it disperses with our breath.

  • John Donahue
    Posted at 10:11h, 05 July Reply

    Nothing more beautiful than a field of yellow dandelions with the green grass in the background. The dandelion has been blessed with outstanding resilience in the face of mass hostility and attempts at extermination. God is wise and good.

  • Lorraine Majcen
    Posted at 11:30h, 05 July Reply

    Thanks Viola! Your poem reminded me of how I try my darnedest to keep those pesky dandelions from overtaking my lush green grass in my yard.
    For me the dandelion as a weed, taking over the outdoor landscape of my home, is an analogy of how sin in my life, if not uprooted each day, can overtake my life in no time, like a dandelion would a lawn. Thought provoking and helpful for me in my spiritual life.

  • Christine Domingo
    Posted at 14:13h, 05 July Reply

    Viola – you see the good in all! Much as we fight against dandelions and I personally would prefer to root them out of the garden I have to admit, I see the wisdom in your message. They are not the cause of allergies for the most part as is commonly ascribed to the dandelion and do have healing properties, so let’s not “throw out the baby with the bath water” as the common saying goes! Yes, there is a purpose for everything and everyone in God’s magnificent creation. Many thanks for your thought-provoking poem.

  • Sylvia Lee
    Posted at 14:27h, 05 July Reply

    What a great gardener God is ! God is watching over both the wickedness and the righteousness.
    Thanks for sharing, Viola. May God bless you.

  • Rita
    Posted at 18:53h, 05 July Reply

    I think dandelions are beautiful and apart from their nutritional and medicinal value, they lend beauty and colour to our lawns. But people always complain about them saying they mar the beauty of their lawns and so they have to be uprooted frequently. I live in an apartment so I don’t know whether to agree or disagree.

  • Teresa Correia
    Posted at 21:13h, 05 July Reply

    Viola
    Beautifully expressed “saint and sinner “ food for deeper thoughts. Thank you

  • Noel deSilva
    Posted at 16:00h, 06 July Reply

    Dandelions are God’s creation,in his wisdom he gave us a food and beverage to sustain ourselves,but the powers to be on this planet have declared it a weed, so we try our damndest to get it out of our lives. In retrospect the dandelion is like a blight on our spiritual life and since God has given us free will to choose we pluck it out of our hearts and soul

  • Mario Coutinho & Olivia Coutinho
    Posted at 17:01h, 06 July Reply

    The oft-repeated saying, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I for one think is often true. The bright flower that illuminates the lawn, if and when closely examined, will confirm it. Again, the saying, give a dog a bad name and shoot it. So the poor dandelion suffers the effect of man’s judgment till someone considered a sage in modern times decides it has scenic value, and then it may result in housewives and garden lovers exchange views as to how to nurture the best of the crop of dandelions. That’s all that comes to mind in my humble opinion.
    However, thanks for keeping your provocative circulation going.

  • Catherine von Zuben
    Posted at 19:36h, 06 July Reply

    Thank you Viola. This is a beautiful poem with an even more beautiful message. Yes, we are all a ‘bag of mixed saint and sinner’ living with our eyes fixed on the Divine Mercy of God. When our African family of refugees arrived they were awe struck with the beauty of the dandelion in all its phases – and they did love to blow the seeds of the puff-ball making wishes for a bright future. Blessings to you.

  • Roy Fanthome
    Posted at 20:27h, 06 July Reply

    Thanks for sharing. May swirling Dandelions return to you.

  • Tonis Kilp
    Posted at 20:42h, 06 July Reply

    Nice poem Viola, the problem with dandelions is like other weeds they simply do not know how to get along and need to take over everything, but now we have a new “Enemy Number one” with the ominous name” Strangling Dog Vine. Thank you for sharing it is always a pleasure to read your poems, many blessings, tonis.

  • Fay
    Posted at 22:50h, 08 July Reply

    It is just amazing how your thought process goes into such creativity, with even a little flower like that. You are so good at bringing in God and his creation in so many ways and guide us in the direction we would never think of. As an avid gardener, I just always said and to this day, that those plants bring us so much joy and enlighten us after a long cold winter, you tied this little flower to God’s love and creation so well.
    Congratulations and may the Holy Spirit continue to inspire you.

  • suzanne renaud
    Posted at 14:15h, 09 July Reply

    The fourth paragraph resonates within me! Thank you for this insightful poem.

  • Ana Maria Rodriguez
    Posted at 22:14h, 09 July Reply

    How real this is! Every person in this world faces this!

    The person chooses and God is always there, patient

    respectful & merciful …….Thank you Viola!

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