In our lives, we expect certain things of others. We hope for kindness, we hope they will treat others fairly and live peacefully. Our expectations can excite us sometimes; they can lead us forward eagerly and give us hope.
But then, the unexpected can happen. When I left home in December, my Christmas cactus looked barren. It was green but showed no signs of buds. Soon after I left, my neighbor told me that it began to bloom and still had buds and flowers when I returned in March.
This was a small thing but totally unexpected. I am reminded of the disciples. Do you think they expected Jesus to die? To be hung on a cross to die? They had seen all that he could do - the healing, the feeding, the preaching, and the love that others showed him. Did they expect all of this to turn on him? I think not. But he was hung on a cross and he did die. This was unexpected but then three days later another thing happened that was totally unexpected. HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD!
Now my Christmas Cactus blooming was unexpected. But it was a very small thing. For Jesus Christ blooms inside of all of us every day. Not just on one season of the year but to be with us all every season of our lives.
Carolyn Olsen
