Patience, perseverance pays off!

It's been eight - count them - 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 LLLOOOONNNGGG years since I took possession of a little lilac "sprig."  When I bought it on a trip to Mackinac Island, it was nothing but a single little "twig" with some green leaves.  I purchased it - I did not steal it - along with a Certificate that authenticates it as a Mackinac Island Lilac plant!!!

I babied this sweet little thing the whole trip until I could get it home and figure out what to do with it.  It lived in the house for a little while until it got some nice roots and then it got planted.  It lived in the house the first winter to make sure that it would make it (although being a Mackinac Island Lilac plant, I am sure it would have survived the harshest of Michigan winters - even outside!)

The poor thing has been transplanted from pot to pot and survived a couple of moves along the way.

But, for seven years, this little lilac never had one bloom...:-(  Until last year!!!  I was out of my mind with excitement last year when I had  little blooms on two - count them 1-2 of the little branches!!!!

 Imagine my delight and excitement today when I found these purple little blossoms (and MANY more) on my sweet little Mackinac Island Lilac bush!!!

I am NOT a horticulturist, but this little thing brings SO many things to mind...

ALL of the beautiful lilac bushes by our (and my Grandparent's house) growing up, the precious aroma of lilacs, how expensive lilacs can be when my friend wanted them for her October wedding :-), the trip to Mackinac Island with my exchange student Ignacio, wondering over the past eight years whether or not the plant would grow and bear flowers..

WOW - how many times has my Heavenly Father wondered if I would grow and bear fruit?!?!  It's been MANY more that eight years that He has watched me grow.  I am SO grateful for His patience and perseverance with me, even in the times when I haven't been blooming and bearing fruit like He would want me to.  What a beautiful way to remind me to be doing HIS things!!!

Psalm 92:4 - For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.