Since late last year it has begun to look like things are on a downward trend. Before long there may very well be more surgeries, even riskier than before. I usually cope fairly well, but one morning the blues hit particularly hard. I was out with Chloe and came upon the morning glories. We saw more blooms that day than any before, at least five shades of blue and purple, and a lilac-throated white as well.
Why I did it, I don’t know, but I began assigning names to each blossom, names of people who have been special blessings to me during this journey toward blindness. At first I thought I would run out of names before I ran out of blooms. Higher and higher my eyes roamed, spotting another and another, and yet another bloom ten feet above the ground. When I ran out of blooms I still had a dozen names left over.
Suddenly my steps became springier and my mood brightened. Look how many people have been there for me, driving me all over, picking up medications for me, sending cards, calling, bringing meals, giving me an encouraging word, and often a hug, even helping me with some of the earlier expenses that the insurance company wouldn’t touch, and always praying.
“My grace is sufficient,” Jesus told Paul when he had prayed for the thorn to be removed. “It doesn’t need to be removed; you just have to trust that I will help you through it.” He has certainly given me ample help.
Too many times, instead of looking up to count the blooms, I am looking down to count the weeds. Do you know what? There were far more blooms than weeds that morning, and it is so in my life as well. In fact, some of those blooms once were weeds, but through the grace of the Lord working in our lives, the two of us managed to make a new relationship that we both count as blooms now. In some cases, the grace that made this happen were the very trials we prayed to have removed.
So today, as you walk through your life’s garden, don’t look down and count the weeds. Look up and count the blossoms that hang from the vine of Christ’s grace, the grace he promised would help you overcome, would make you stronger, and would cover any weaknesses you still might have after giving your all. Put a name on every one of those blossoms. I imagine you will have names left over too, names you forget about when your mind stays too long in the weeds, people who have made the hard times easier to bear, and who will hold you up when life beats too hard for you to stand on your own.
God is the reason those blooms are there, as He sheds yet more grace into your life, promising that nothing will happen that is too hard for you to bear, and that you will never have to bear it alone.
Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand, Isa 41:10.
Dene Ward
Why I did it, I don’t know, but I began assigning names to each blossom, names of people who have been special blessings to me during this journey toward blindness. At first I thought I would run out of names before I ran out of blooms. Higher and higher my eyes roamed, spotting another and another, and yet another bloom ten feet above the ground. When I ran out of blooms I still had a dozen names left over.
Suddenly my steps became springier and my mood brightened. Look how many people have been there for me, driving me all over, picking up medications for me, sending cards, calling, bringing meals, giving me an encouraging word, and often a hug, even helping me with some of the earlier expenses that the insurance company wouldn’t touch, and always praying.
“My grace is sufficient,” Jesus told Paul when he had prayed for the thorn to be removed. “It doesn’t need to be removed; you just have to trust that I will help you through it.” He has certainly given me ample help.
Too many times, instead of looking up to count the blooms, I am looking down to count the weeds. Do you know what? There were far more blooms than weeds that morning, and it is so in my life as well. In fact, some of those blooms once were weeds, but through the grace of the Lord working in our lives, the two of us managed to make a new relationship that we both count as blooms now. In some cases, the grace that made this happen were the very trials we prayed to have removed.
So today, as you walk through your life’s garden, don’t look down and count the weeds. Look up and count the blossoms that hang from the vine of Christ’s grace, the grace he promised would help you overcome, would make you stronger, and would cover any weaknesses you still might have after giving your all. Put a name on every one of those blossoms. I imagine you will have names left over too, names you forget about when your mind stays too long in the weeds, people who have made the hard times easier to bear, and who will hold you up when life beats too hard for you to stand on your own.
God is the reason those blooms are there, as He sheds yet more grace into your life, promising that nothing will happen that is too hard for you to bear, and that you will never have to bear it alone.
Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand, Isa 41:10.
Dene Ward
RSS Feed