Seeing the Gifts Through the Weeds – A Reflection on the Bull Thistle

In the far corner of my yard, there stands a solitary bull thistle.

Most would see it and wince.
Invasive. Spiky. Ugly.
Dangerous.
A weed to be uprooted, discarded, controlled.

But I’ve come to see something entirely different.

A gift.
A provision.
A whisper from God Himself.

The bull thistle—stubborn, wild, and uninvited—sprouted near my beehive. And as I paused to observe it, I felt something stir in my spirit. This wasn’t a curse. It was a cure.

I later discovered that this so-called “weed” holds powerful medicinal properties—properties that speak directly to the conditions I’ve been struggling with. Liver support. Anti-inflammatory aid. Pain relief. Circulatory health. The list kept growing—seven areas in total where my body has cried out for help.

Seven.
From one plant.
Unplanted by me… but not unpurposed.

In that moment, I was overwhelmed by a quiet knowing:

This wasn’t accidental.
It was strategically placed here on purpose.
For me.

A personalized provision. A divine nudge. A tender reminder that God sees, God knows, and God provides—even in the wild and unexpected.

And beyond its healing potential for me, it’s a feast for the bees. A super-pollinator. Towering spikes transformed into nectar sanctuaries. Their buzz around it sounds like hallelujahs. Their happy dance gives heart smiles.

How many times in life do we miss the gift because it doesn’t arrive in the packaging we expect?

We pull the weeds without asking why they’ve grown.

We judge what’s wild as worthless.
We rush to eradicate what might be here to heal.

But this thistle?
It reminds me that not all blessings come in soft petals or neatly arranged garden beds.
Some arrive armored.
Some are misunderstood.
Some come without our permission—and yet carry everything we need.

So I’ve left it.
One bull thistle, bold and blooming, where most would mow it down.
A quiet reminder of the unseen generosity of God.

A reminder that beauty often bristles before it blooms.

And a personal testimony: I will choose to see the gifts… even through the weeds.

💜Back To Eden💜