Five Minute Friday: Bloom of Iron

Over at lisajobaker.com the fabulous Lisa hosts a weekly blog party called Five Minute Friday.

The rules are simple:

1. She decides on a one-word writing prompt. This week it is "Bloom".
2. Bloggers everywhere set their timers for five minutes.
3. Our pens fly....can you hear the frantic scritchety-scratch? 
4. We publish our five-minute masterpiece & share with the world. 

Bloom....Flowers....."Bloom where you are planted."

Those are thoughts that came to mind at first.

But, that's what most others thought, too. So that was too easy. Too mainstream for me. (smile)

Yes, I want to bloom where I'm planted. I also want to my children to bloom where they are planted...graciously, peacefully, beautifully. But also strongly, firmly and courageously.

Then a bloom of iron came to mind.

   

(photo source)

An iron bloom is the mass of iron left over after iron ore has been smelted. After enduring the fire and the oxides have been  removed, this iron bloom can then be heated and shaped into tools, sculptors, towers and building material. The iron bloom after being heated, shaped and pounded becomes wrought iron. Wrought iron will last virtually forever if painted and maintained regularly. (1)

Like all raw iron ore, we have impurities in our soul. When we come under fire, the trials of life, we must persevere and endure, so the oxides, impurities of our souls, are slowly removed and we become a mold-able spirit.

Like the iron bloom, when in the fire we are being shaped into whatever the Master Crafter has in mind.

Like the iron bloom, we will emerge stronger, becoming a wrought iron pillar of faith leaving a legacy that will endure throughout generations.

Although wrought iron is used less today than it was in generations past, wrought iron sculptors and towers are still standing today. The most famous would probably be the Eiffel Tower, standing since 1889.

I want to bloom where I'm planted. But, I don't want to be like a flower whose beauty lasts only a few days, or wilts in the heat of the day.

I want to be like the iron bloom, mold-able, enduring, and persevering. Emerging  from the fires a strong, sturdy, immovable, intimidating, unyielding, stout-hearted bloom of iron; a flower of everlasting faith.

"You made me bold and stouthearted."

~Psalm 138:3~

"Surely he will never be shaken;

a righteous man will be remembered forever."

~Psalm 112:6~

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

He is my fortress,

I will not be shaken."

~Psalm 62:6~

Sharing with... Missional Call, Essential Devotions, Missional Women, Christian Mommy Blogger, A Look at the Book, Beauty Observed, Nancherrow, Counting My Blessings, Soul Survivor, A Proverbs 31 Wife, The Beauty in His Grip, Marriage, Motherhood & Missions, Mom's the Word, The Modest Mom Blog, yes they are all Ours, Looking at the Rays of Grace and Joy, A Mama's Story, Chronicles of Grace, The Wellspring, She Lives Free, The Life of Faith, Cornerstone Confessions, Teaching What is Good, Renewed Daily, Sandra Heska King

(1) reference