IT IS ILLEGAL TO PICK BLUEBONNETS IN TEXAS.

Or so I heard when I first moved to the Lone Star State. I looked over my shoulder every time I pulled up a few, wondering when I was gonna feel a shotgun blast to the back of my head. Was having a vase-full of little Lupinus’ making me out to be some type of fiendish flower-foraging felon?

I worried about this for no reason because it turned out to be a big ole myth. Think about how many other silly things Christians worry about that end up being nothing?

Former baseball player Mickey Rivers said this: “Ain’t no sense worryin’ about the things you got control over, ’cause if you got control over ’em, ain’t no sense worryin’. And ain’t no sense worryin’ about the things you don’t got control over, ’cause if you don’t got control over ’em, ain’t no sense worryin’.”

That’s one man’s advice, but here’s what Jesus said about worrying…and wildflowers:

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30)

Most people of Jesus’ day had only one or two sets of clothes. Yet the richest king who ever lived did not wear more beautiful garments than a common flower that when dead and dried, was fuel for the fire.

I’m always amazed when I see the Bluebonnets spring up in March, but by late April, they’ve completely vanished! Then, the Texas Paintbrushes appear…then disappear. Next, the Indian Blanket, after that, the Winecup. Not one of those flowers worry about how they look. The only one I ever saw whining was a Weeping Willow.

Our Great Provider says that we don’t need to worry about the things we need to survive because “…will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” A person who worries about those things may have saving faith, but not the kind of faith that relies on God to provide everything we need for common living. Like clothing.

Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) said, “Cannot you trust God for temporal things? Can you trust him for your soul’s redemption, and not rely upon him for a few lesser mercies? If so, seek another God.”

Now that we don’t have to worry anymore, here’s some good news about those Bluebonnets: Wecan pick them freely! With a few exceptions….

You can’t trespass on private property to pick a bunch and it’s against the law to pick, cut, or destroy any plant life on any Texas State Park grounds. Please be courteous and don’t go digging up large clumps of flowers or drive into a field of them either. Also, many of the wildflowers growing on the side of the road are annuals that won’t reseed if they are pulled up or trampled. And, don’t take pictures among the bluebonnets if doing so will damage them.

Oh! One thing to be concerned about though: Watch out for rattlesnakes planted by that terrorist organization, “Smiling Friends of the Texas Bluebonnets.”

Now, that’s something to worry about.