A few days ago, when some of my family came to visit, I went to move my cactus. I didn't want my little granddaughter to reach up and touch it now that she was tall enough to see over the table top. I had several plants all grouped together in that one sunny spot, so I began moving them one by one. When it came time for me to move the cactus, somehow I tripped and sent the plant flying through the air. As I reached to catch it, instead of grabbing the plant by the pot, I grabbed it by the head of the plant which was covered with tiny little needles. Immediately I felt intense shooting pain! The sharp little needles had embedded themselves into my fingers. Have you ever seen one of those cartoons where the dog runs into a cactus and immediately pulls back with his snout all covered in prickly needles? That's exactly how I felt! One minute everything was fine and the next minute it was complete chaos!
I ran to get a pair of tweezers while holding my needle encrusted hand limply as I hurried. My daughter was kind enough to take the tweezers from me and begin the process of removing every tiny little needle one by one. Those little suckers hurt! It took all I could do to keep from crying and I had to bite my lip to keep from shouting out expletives. After several minutes, the last cactus needle was removed from my hand. I was amazed at how something so tiny, almost invisible to the eye, could hurt so much.
Wondering why cacti have needles, I began searching on the internet. I found out that the needles are actually called spikes and they are a protective part of the cactus plant. Since cacti contain water, the needles or spikes, protect the plant from predatory animals who may come seeking a drink. They also provide shade for the cactus. Cacti were created
by God to be incredibly sturdy, thriving in harsh environmental conditions.
They usually grow in dry arid places and where temperatures vary from extreme
heat during the day to extreme cold at night. These and other conditions are
some of the hardships cacti bear. I was amazed at all I learned about cacti.
As I pondered all that I'd learned about cacti, I realized my life was very similar to that of a cactus, especially this year. I had been through extremely harsh conditions with my breast cancer. I had put up my protective wall of needles at first to keep people at bay. I did not want to be touched for fear of being physically harmed. As my body was healing, I had to protect myself. It was too risky to be vulnerable. I had to keep my tough exterior up...I had to let everyone know that I was okay. But soon I learned I could let down my guard. I learned it was okay to cry. I lowered my protective wall of needles and let others in to help me and when I did, they surrounded me with their love. Not only did my family and friends love me despite my tough exterior, God loved me too. I experienced times of spiritual dryness and but also times of a spiritual monsoon. Many times I felt forgotten and alone but other times, I felt so very close to God. I had not shriveled up and died in the heat, the stressful hard times of my recovery instead, I had managed to stay alive. Not only did I stay alive, I thrived. All those prickly little needles from my cactus plant hurt tremendously, but they reminded me that my life, like the cactus, had managed to thrive even in the toughest conditions.
My little cactus is a daily reminder that God has allowed me to suffer this year, not only from those prickly little cactus needles sticking me all over my fingers, but through the ordeal of cancer. In His Word, I am reminded too, that my suffering won't last forever. It will be used for reasons that only God can conceive and understand. The length of time He allows me to continue on in this trial is up to Him, but I know after it's all said and done, I'll be perfected and made stronger. His Word tells me this is true and I can't help but believe!
© bonnie annis all rights reserved
May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.
1 Peter 5:10
