THE MIRACLE OF THE FLOWER by Robert Soto

THE MIRACLE OF THE FLOWER by Robert Soto

March 11, 2010

Zechariah 10:1 "Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone."

I love growing cactus. Maybe because it does not take much maintenance to keep them green and growing. Most of the time you can cut off a branch or leaf and just throw it on the ground and it will grow. I used to collect them, but today I just plant them as I see the need to plant them. Another desert plant I love to grow is the century plant. They normally do not take much attention to get them to grow. All it takes is a little water and a lot of sunshine, and they will flourish into a wonderful looking plant. I have about seven kinds growing around my house. I even have one that I saw in South America which grows up to fifteen to twenty feet tall. I call it a monster cactus.

But the century plants have one of the prettiest blooms you will ever see. It starts off with a beautiful white bulb with each section outlined in purple. Each day for the next six days it continues to grow and eventually blossoms into one of the most beautiful sights - an array of white flowers. But the century plant was more than a plant to decorate your front yard or cactus garden. It was our means of survival. The leaves are made of fibers that can be woven into rope. The flowers, either raw or boiled in water, made a nutritious food, full of nourishment and fiber. The nectar can be used for substitute sugar and the flowers produce a delicious sweet liquid. So the century plant was more than something to decorate the exterior of our homes, it was one of our means of survival. The century plant, like any other plant used for the survival of mankind, was a gift from God the Creator so that we would survive. As Zechariah wrote, "He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone."

Robert Soto, Lipan Apache and pastor of:

McAllen Grace Brethren Church
The Native American New Life Center
Chief of Chiefs Christian Church