Be Like a Dandelion?

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4

Is it weird to say I think I want to be like a dandelion?  I know most people look at the dandelion as the peskiest of weeds disturbing the beauty of their manicured lawns, but I have come to admire much about the dandelion.

First, their cheerful yellow blooms are attractive.  I enjoy seeing that bright pop of yellow amid the sea of green grass, and they really do catch your eye. Nothing is so beautiful to me as an offering of a handful of these yellow blooms in the fist of a child given to show love to someone else. It’s heart-warming to be on the receiving end of that exchange.

Once that yellow bloom has gone to seed, many people view the resulting puffball as an eyesore.  However, isn’t it amazing how many seeds it produces?  The dandelion has a very effective means of scattering seeds far and wide. As believers, we are called to scatter the seeds of our faith.  And like the dandelion, we are not to concern ourselves over where that seed lands or what it produces.  We should be faithful to share our faith as we go through our days, allowing God to do the rest.

But I think the most admirable trait of the dandelion is how resilient it is. I have flower beds across the front of our home that I try to tend each year.  Every spring, I spend a few hours cleaning out the beds for a new season.  I have to pull a lot of weeds, typically.  Some weeds are not difficult to pull out.  One tug or twist can uproot many weeds, especially if you get to them quickly after they’ve sprung up.  I have not found that to be true of the dandelion.  It seems to me like the dandelion must grow its taproot immediately!  The dandelions that have sprouted in my flowerbeds remain.  I pull the leaves and stems and as much of the root as I can get, but within a week or so, they are back.

I did a quick google search to learn a bit more about the dandelion’s root system.  The dandelion’s taproot typically reaches 6-18 inches deep, but it can grow as long as 10-15 feet! This strong taproot helps the plant endure even in drought conditions.  And the root is regenerative, as anyone like me who has tried to pull one out of a flower bed can attest.  Apparently, if you leave even one inch of the root in the ground, the plant can regrow.  No wonder I have trouble getting them out of my flowerbeds.

This is why I have come to admire the dandelion. This persistence that they have to grow no matter where they sprout is astounding.  Even when they sprout in the crack of a sidewalk or a hard, rocky ground, they seem to be invincible.  I want to be more like that. I want my faith to be as deeply rooted as the dandelion. 

How do we develop such a strongly rooted faith?  Time spent studying scripture is important as is time spent in prayer learning to share our hearts with God and also learning to hear His voice.  Spending time with other believers, worshipping together and encouraging one another is part of the recipe also.  But as Paul points out in Romans 5:3, suffering and trials are tools God uses to build perseverance and character in us. That’s not something most of us welcome. It’s definitely not something we ask for. But it is what drives our roots deep and helps those roots to grow.

Have you ever noticed that dandelions sometimes bloom at the end of a long stem that stands tall and other times they bloom very close to the ground? If they grow in our yard but get cut off by the lawnmower, it seems to me like they adapt and keep their blooms close to the ground until they are ready to seed.  The puffball of seeds always stands tall.  It’s almost like they know that lawnmower can be used to spread those seeds!  And of course, it does just that!  

So yeah, I want to be more like the dandelion.  I want to be a bright spot in the day for those I encounter, encouraging them and lifting their spirits.  And I want to be deeply rooted and firmly established in my faith, but also standing tall in the face of difficulty and adversity, knowing that even the things meant to harm me make me stronger and help me to share the truth of God’s great love.

Lord, help me to remember these lessons whenever I see a dandelion.  Help me to do my part to grow closer to You each day and become firmly rooted in You so that I can use every opportunity to show others your love and truth.