4 minute read
A Focus on Him
photo and writing by Lillian Cucuzza
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
Macro photography magnifies the finest details of subjects we take for granted. Take, for example, this photo of Creeping Charlie, a pesky common weed we find in our lawns. The flowers are only one-third of an inch long and are beautiful when viewed close up. However, when we are standing above them, all we see is a weed that needs to be pulled before it spreads throughout the entire lawn and chokes the life out of the grass.
This macro photo reveals not only the beauty of this flower but also the tiny hairs on the flowers, leaves, and stem. I always thought the fine hairs just captured the dew and moisture for growth. Upon further research, I learned even more about God’s intelligent and amazing design to protect plants. Those tiny hairs are called trichomes. Not only do they absorb moisture, they are an amazing protective layer that helps insulate the plant from the sun, frost, wind, and heat. They also act as a tiny forest, providing shade to reduce water loss from evaporation. No wonder that weed is so hard to destroy.
In addition, trichomes help protect plants and flowers from their mortal enemies, insect herbivores. One form of trichomes, called nonglandular, are sharp and pointed, fortified with silica and calcium carbonate, making them hard to chew. They are so hard that they dull the teeth of caterpillars that try to eat them. The sharp points eventually kill the caterpillars by causing their guts to bleed. Another form, called glandular trichomes, looks like dew drops on the hairs. They are actually swollen trichome heads that act like a water tank and contain a toxic or sticky compound that either traps herbivores or kills the insect when ingested. Whoa! That is a serious protective layer!
We need a layer like that to protect our hearts, minds, and souls from sin and the evil that tries to tempt us daily. Sin is just like that weed that quickly spreads and tries to choke the life out of us.
Fortunately, we have multiple protective layers readily available to us. Accepting God’s free gift of salvation through faith is the most important layer.
We instantly become filled with the Holy Spirit, and according to Galatians 5:16, if we walk by the Spirit, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Will we still sin? Absolutely, but 1 John 1:9 (KJV) promises us another layer of protection. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Even though we accepted God’s gift of salvation and are saved for eternity, we still need protection from sinful temptations. Reading, studying, applying the Word of God, confession, and prayer give us additional layers of protection from the daily attacks by the enemy and sin. They are the weed killers that we need to keep sin from growing like a weed in the garden of our lives while we are here on earth.
God is the ultimate macro photographer. He closely examines our hearts. Will He find those protective layers of His Word surrounding and hidden in your heart, or will He find a tangle of weeds? How does your garden grow?
Lillian’s passions are nature photography and serving God. She is a best-selling author, award-winning photographer, and a regular contributor to Voice of Truth magazine. Lillian uses her photography and writing talents to glorify and honor God for His beautiful creation.
Visit, like, and follow her websites: www.HisCreationsLLC.com, www.LillianCucuzzaPhotography.com, Facebook and Instagram @HISCreationsLLC, or email her at Lillian.HisCreations@gmail. com.
