Understanding God’s Will Through Flower Arrangement

For a long time, it had been my dream to serve through flower arrangement in Zion. Knowing my heart’s desire, God granted me the opportunity, and since last year, I have been in charge of the flower arrangements alongside another deaconess. Though we were both beginners, we offered countless prayers of gratitude and supplication, asking God to allow us to bring Him glory through our work. We studied various videos and photos and learned the ropes from a seasoned deaconess with over ten years of experience as we prepared for our very first arrangement.

On the day we headed to the dawn flower market together for the first time, I stepped inside with a mix of nervous tension and excitement, knowing I was doing God’s work. I was absolutely captivated by the beautiful flowers blooming in every imaginable color. Praying for inspiration from Father and Mother, we began our flower "casting" process. Many formidable candidates showed their faces, but after a rigorous "audition," we gathered the chosen ones bundle by bundle until our arms were full. Once we brought them back and settled them into water, they looked so incredibly lovely that just looking at them brought a wave of pure happiness.

The next day, after a sincere prayer, we began the arrangement. Our first task was to sort the flowers. We separated them by their unique traits: the delicate blooms, the rugged branches, the "star" flowers that would take center stage, and the subtle blossoms that add texture and atmosphere. From the lush green leaves to the various woody branches, we placed them all into separate buckets to let them drink their fill.

With the vases set on the table and the buckets lined up behind them, the scene itself was incredibly charming. I would select one flower and pull its bucket toward me; when I needed something else, I would bring forward another. This flower, that flower, this branch, that leaf . . . I kept pulling buckets close as needed, pushing them back, and bringing them forward again. As this rhythm repeated, the desired shape gradually began to emerge. Finally, the finished arrangements were moved to their respective places: some to the sanctuary altar, some to the information desk, and others to the shelves along the hallways. In their designated spots, they show off their beauty to the fullest, bringing joy to the Zion family and giving glory to God.

As I was tidying up our tools and clearing the workspace, a sudden realization washed over me. In Zion, there are so many different types of brothers and sisters, each gifted with unique talents. There are those who stand on stage to sing praises to God, those who emit a beautiful fragrance by bearing much fruit, and those who write brilliant chapters of the gospel on the mission field. I admitted to myself that there were times I felt envious of those who were used so gracefully for the gospel, and perhaps there were others who felt the same way about the roles I was given.

But I saw it clearly through the flowers: the buckets only move at the hand of the one arranging them. Sometimes they stay in one spot for a long while; other times, they are moved forward, backward, or to the side. To the eyes of the arranger, every single flower is lovely, precious, and cherished. It is simply that, depending on the need of the moment, a flower might be moved to the back for a time and then brought forward again when the perfect situation arises. Regardless of how their position or environment changes, every flower eventually finds its place throughout Zion to fulfill its mission.

I realized that our roles in Zion are exactly the same. No matter when or how we are used, we will all eventually return to heaven, holding tightly to the hands of Heavenly Father and Mother. I looked back and wondered if I had ever caused myself sorrow by envying others or doubting Father and Mother’s love—fearing they might have lost interest in me—simply because I failed to grasp how much They cherish every one of Their children. Even when the path through the wilderness of faith is difficult, if we look only to Mother—who makes us the sole focus of Her attention—and endure to the end, we will eventually enter the eternal garden and the holy mountain by the sea of glass. I am so grateful to God for taking us, His immature children, to personally trim, refine, and nourish us with the water of life until we grow into healthy, fruit-bearing trees. From now on, I will cast aside all my anxieties and joyfully walk this gospel path with absolute faith.