By Pastor Ryan Stockstrom

Harvest Church

I realize that I’ll miss the “official”mother’s day in this column. But I think we can celebrate women any day, so here it goes. God made women unique and special- powerfully created to reflect God’s image in a way only they can.  

I’m constantly impressed—not just by what women do, but by the strength, grace, and adaptability with which they do it.

While I was praying about what to share in my sermon for Mother’s Day, a phrase came to my heart: ‘Bloom where you’re planted.’ It’s not a new idea. You’ve probably heard it before. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized how deeply it speaks to the heart of womanhood—and to the seasons of life we all go through.

Let me give you a picture: the Arctic poppy. This flower grows in some of the harshest climates on earth—gravelly, rocky soils in the far north. But it also blooms in gentle meadows. What makes it survive? It adapts. It turns its face to follow the sun across the sky—a process called heliotropism. It even grows tiny insulating hairs to hold in warmth against the cold winds. God designed this flower to survive, even thrive, in tough places.

Women are no different: They adapt and thrive as mothers, yes—but also doctors, teachers, leaders, nurses, business owners, caregivers, cleaners, creatives. They navigate crowded schedules and emotional burdens with strength that often goes unseen.

That’s what I want to encourage each of us to do: Bloom where we’re planted, today. Embrace the place you’re in right now—even if it’s not where you expected to be. Life comes in seasons. Some are joyful, some are stretching, some feel endless. But none of them last forever.

Maybe you’re single right now. That’s not a holding pattern—it’s a place of purpose. A season to discover who you are and what God has placed inside you. Maybe you’re navigating marriage, adjusting to life with young kids, building your career, or parenting teenagers. Maybe you’re entering the empty nest stage or retirement—or even becoming a grandmother or great-grandmother. Each of these seasons brings challenges, yes, but also profound opportunities.

So here’s what I’d like to encourage you with:

Embrace your current season. Even if it’s hard. God can and will meet you right there.

Let the Lord lead you. Ask His Spirit to fill you and give you grace for each day.

Stay connected. Don’t walk through it alone. Surround yourself with people who will encourage you and walk with you.

Remember it’s not forever. Seasons change. So will yours.

Whatever your current stage in life, you are not stuck. You are planted. And with God’s help, you can bloom.