Have you ever wondered how something can be so attractive and pleasing to us but at the same time is deadly to our very being and health? Foxgloves are one of those things. These flowers are beautiful. They stand straight, proud, tall and just scream "I'm beautiful!" But did you know that these flowers are deadly?
Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) grows wild and can be planted in your garden. I love to drive down the highways and see them alongside the road, standing in rows waving in the breeze. Unfortunately, these flowers are extremely poisonous even in small doses. I was reading a little bit of information on this from this website called What's Cooking America? and here is a little tidbit from there. Please read more of this article as it tells of some of the symptoms of getting into this plant.
The entire plant is toxic (including the roots, sap, flowers, seeds, and leaves), although the leaves of the upper stem are particularly potent, with just a nibble being enough to cause death. The upper leaves of the stem are more dangerous than the lower leaves. Foxglove is most toxic just before the seeds ripen. It tastes spicy hot or bitter and smells slightly bad. This plant is so poisonous that ingesting only .5 gram dried or 2 grams of fresh leaf is enough to kill a person.
Jesus says that we are to be sure that we don't collect too many material items because we have no use for them in Heaven, and getting to heaven is our main goal. Right!? RIGHT!!
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth currupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Matthew 6:19-20How can we be sure to go to Heaven? We must accept Jesus Christ as our Lord, Savior and the son of God.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:71
We encounter so many things that look like they are exactly what we need and they certainly do look beautiful. But by participating in these temptations can poison our very lives and souls. As we see the lovely colors and we are tempted to pick the flowers, bring them home into our lives and families, and poison the very place where our hearts feel safe. But we mustn't do that. Just as we are tempted to fill our lives with the fun and possessions of a secular world, we should not bring them home, into our lives and families, to poison the very place where our hearts feel safe: In His Love.
Some of my information was used from these websites:
About.com Landscaping Foxglove Plants
whatscookingamerica.net Foxgloves, Beautiful But Deadly
No comments:
Post a Comment