My cat disappeared into the clump of tall grass. If a butterfly hadn’t flown overhead prompting her to leap after it, her identity would have remained concealed.

If a cat can disappear into the grass in my front yard, what else is hiding there? This thought lingered throughout the busyness of the week while I anxiously awaited a free afternoon to mow.

The day arrived. Before I could mow, we had to meticulously comb the yard and remove all the obstacles hidden in the overgrowth. Pieces of wood. Deer antlers. Cups. Bullet casings. Shooting targets. Old wire. Outdoor toys. It’s amazing how much stuff accumulates in the yard between kids, husbands, hurricanes, and pets.

The overgrowth in the yard created fear in me. I have not wanted to walk in the yard for weeks because the warmer we become in the south, the more snakes begin to crawl. I’m not one of those good snake, bad snake people. All of them are moccasins. And all create immobilization and panic.

Once I finally started mowing, calm came over me. No more fear of walking in my front yard. No more worry of creepy crawlies or tripping on hidden hazards.

As the overgrowth slowly disappeared, something else happened. Even though I knew there were wildflowers in my front yard, I could no longer enjoy them. The surrounding overgrowth blinded me to their beauty. Once the distracting weeds were taken down, I could clearly see the large stand of yellow flowers.

Carefully, I circled the flowered area, leaving them standing, but mowing down the grass and weeds. With each pass, the flowers appeared more vibrant than before. A smile emerged each time. The blessings of these flowers were hidden beneath the overgrowth.

Doesn’t this sound like life? The more distractions, the less ability to see our blessings. We get blinded by the overgrowth and miss the true blessings in our lives.

This week, I challenge you to look past the distractions, remove them if possible, and focus on the many blessings in your life. Like me, it will change your focus, reduce fear, and improve your outlook. The blessing of hidden flowers in a sea of weeds will be worth the effort.