Black Flowers

Because of the title of my post, I'll go ahead and tell the story before I make any connections or applications.

I was on a run when I spotted what looked like a black flower.  No kidding!  Very similar to a Gerber daisy.  Petals straight out, horizontal with the ground!  But then it even looked like a black stem.  That's when I quickly realized that it must be a mushroom or something.  I kept my pace and continued on thinking about what I just saw.  I've landed with the conclusion that I'm sure it was a mushroom, but I could not get away from the idea of a "black flower."  I thought it was beautiful.... but "it" didn't really exist.  How can something that doesn't exist be beautiful?

James 1:2
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,"

That verse equals black flowers to me.  You've heard 'beauty from ashes?"  Well, something along those lines....I see that in my hard, God is there.  I feel His very presence in the midst of it all.  So, maybe that's why I'm so drawn to the idea of black flowers.

Since then...
Well, I found and bought some fake "black flowers" at Hobby Lobby.  I LOVE them!  I love that they make me think of James 1:2.  I see God EVEN when I'm smack dab in the middle of difficulties.