In early December last year, at the start of gift wrapping and cookie baking, my neighbor came to the door with a beautiful red poinsettia. I received the gift with heartfelt thanks for her kindness, but I had no hope for its future. In my care, none had ever lasted much beyond the new year. 

Spring came and I couldn’t believe the leaves had maintained their color. By summer’s end only a few red ones remained in its lower parts, but my plant seemed healthy. Could it survive all four seasons? By autumn, all the red had faded—along with my hopes. 

Then came December. 

One year had passed and my poinsettia still lived, though it no longer looked as it did when my neighbor brought it to our door. It had grown fuller and instead of one color it was speckled with red, like little bows among the green.

When a stem broke off, my husband thought to plant it in its own little pot where it is doing well. I wonder what it will look like in a year? 

My poinsettia has proved that it is not a seasonal plant but a plant for all seasons. 

Visible changes do not indicate weakness.

Expectations, especially from past experience, can influence attitude and actions.

Will the plant survive another year? I don’t know, but I have learned to treasure whatever time we have together because I still have much to learn about life from my poinsettia.

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.  Psalm 62:5