The many soft and delicate flowers of the cosmos, standing tall and wispy, seem to dance with each breath of wind. The leaves are almost hair thin and become unnoticeable in comparison to the flowers. Somehow, the combination of pinks and whites and soft reds, each with a center spot of bright yellow, leads to thoughts of compassion, gentleness, and grace.

One of the joys of these flowers is watching the yellow goldfinch land on the flower stems, looking for a good seedy meal. The weight of these tiny birds is just light enough to allow them to eat what they want and spill the extra flower seeds on the ground. In this way, next year's plants are sown for another season of color.

The roots of the cosmos spread very wide, enabling this tall plant to withstand strong forces of wind. The gusts come and the cosmos sways left and right with each new glance – the stabilizing roots hold onto the plant and return it to its upright position.

In life, we receive gusts of wind from people that have their own agendas. Nasty words are spoken, harshness is perceived and received, and harmful actions take place. How do we react to these acts of unkindness; how wide and deep are our roots?

Sometimes the wind gusts are so strong on the cosmos that parts of the plant are broken, usually at the weak spot where the branch meets the vertical stalk. The branch will bend towards the ground, revealing its hurt and pain. The broken branches are not hidden, for their hurts are exposed for all to see. In time, however, the flowers on that broken branch will reach out towards the sky, once again showing their beauty.

When the heavy rain comes, the flower heads turn towards the ground, bent over by the weight of the water. During these times, no longer does the flower reach towards the sky, but instead it yields under the heaviness. The graceful flowers protect themselves with humility.

How do we react to adversity? When people hurt us, curse us, or are unreasonably demanding, can our attitude be like the cosmos? Jesus said, "Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27).

He continues,

"Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate" (Luke 6:35,36).

The attitude revealed by the cosmos is being flexible when the winds blow, showing our hurts and pains when we are broken, and offering humility during the heavy rain. When we are kind and full of grace to difficult people, allowing the love of God that is within us to be revealed, then we are able to show the grace that Jesus describes.