My husband, Fred, and I have a prodigal son. Years ago, he lived somewhere that had a greenhouse. He absolutely loved working in it and watching things grow.

One day he brought us a swamp hibiscus he had cultivated. He planted it in our front yard and we watched it grow taller and taller. After a while, we noticed buds had appeared and waited excitedly. Finally one bloomed into the most beautiful red blossom I had ever seen. I marveled at all its intricacies.

At dusk the blossom closed up as if going to sleep. Then the next morning I found it on the ground. However, several more buds had opened, displaying multiple beauties. And that was the routine all summer...blossoms in all their glory, falling off during the night, and faithfully replaced each day.

In February we pruned the stalks and watched patiently, hoping our precious plant would come back. In time new growth restored our hope, buds reappeared, and the beautiful blossoms returned. And no matter where our prodigal was or what he was doing, we could see the hibiscus and remember him.

This spring, after 31 years in Lilburn, Georgia, we moved to our dream home on a beautiful lake. But would the hibiscus survive the move? After much debate, we decided it was well worth the risk. We picked the perfect spot in the new front yard where we could see it from the kitchen window.

I went out every day to see if there was any new growth coming out of the dormant stems. Nothing. Had we made a mistake? Then finally one day, there it was, with more stems than ever before! Excitedly, we watched our plant grow into a thriving leaf-covered shrub.

Then disaster struck! In the dark of night, deer nibbled it down to almost nothing. I was horrified. It was as if the hope I have for my son had been destroyed. What could we possibly do now?

Despondent, we looked for a solution and soon learned about deer repellant. Armed with a stout can, Fred applied it to the pathetically chewed off shrub. Again, I went out every day to see if it would survive. And it did! It grew tall with new leaves on its stems. We were elated. Then we learned our second lesson---you have to keep putting on the repellant.

Yes, deer had stripped off all the leaves. But this time they left the stems. More repellent. More hopeful waiting. I watched from the window instead of walking outside because I was losing hope. Yet despite my fears, slowly but surely the stems once again put out leaves.

Then one day it happened. Fred looked out the window and yelled, "We've got a blossom!" Hope restored, I rushed out to examine...the most beautiful blossom ever. The hibiscus had returned!

Much like this plant, our prodigal son has nearly been destroyed several times...but not quite. Slowly new growth appears in him, growing for a while, then nearly disappearing. But sometimes it matures and the bright beautiful bloom that is our son reappears. And though it may be only for a short time, it is long enough for us to realize...

God never fails us...Hope flourishes...because He reigns!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. Romans 15:13a