• Dene's Blog
  • About Dene
  • Contact Dene
  • Dene's Recipes
  • Dene's Books
  • Dene's Classbooks
  • Gallery
  • Recommended Sites
  • FAQ & Tutorial
  Flight Paths

Dripping with Jewels

10/21/2020

0 Comments

 
Sitting on the back of our carport in our lounge chairs with a final cup of morning coffee, we look straight at the little wooden shed Keith built over thirty years ago.  Just on its front left is the sour orange tree I wrote about so long ago.  It is as high as two sheds now, and that's after Keith cut the top out a few years back because we could no longer reach the oranges to pick them.  Behind the shed stretches the long spreading arm of the live oak that stands well to its left.  After that the yard is empty for maybe fifteen feet before another live oak, this one not nearly as old or large, grows just to the left of the equipment shed.  Then the woods start in earnest, around the fire circle on one side and our doggy burial ground on the other, off to the creek and then the neighbor's own forested patch.
            Most of the time, all you see is green—branches, limbs, sprigs, leaves, air plants, mold on the bark, all shades of that cool, verdant color.  But early in the day, especially in the summer after a nighttime rain or a heavy dew or during a suffocating humidity, all that green literally drips with jewels.  Most of the time we see "diamonds."  As we sit there sipping we are facing east and the sun seeps through the cracks between limbs and leaves and refracts through the drops of water.  Of course, the sun is still rising, and as it gradually moves up the angle will change sometimes just for a moment, but other times for several minutes.  Suddenly the tree is dripping with sapphires as a pale blue light appears on each leaf.  And when you are really lucky, a ruby shows up, glinting in the morning breeze and the slowly moving sunbeam, winking at you like a flirting girl.
            We have a lot of fun looking for the hanging jewels on our trees.  Which one will be lucky today and get a ruby?  Who will only have plain, old sparkling diamonds?  It matters where you sit, you see, and how the light hits those water drops from your particular angle.  But, in truth, all of them are beautiful.  Even a tree full of diamonds is far prettier than a plain old tree with no jewelry at all.

            And how we look also depends upon how the Son shines on us.
​And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. ​For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God (John 3:19-21).
So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them (John 12:35-36).
For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (Eph 5:8).

            These passages make it plain that we can't just hang about like dewdrops on a tree waiting for the Son to shine on us.  We must actively seek his light, showing it through a life of faith and good works.  But once we do, once we submit ourselves to Him, He can turn us into diamonds, sapphires, and rubies, beautiful hearts living beautiful lives, sharing His light with the world.  No matter how you started out, God can turn you into a gem.
 
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  (John 8:12).
 
Dene Ward
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Author
    Dene Ward has taught the Bible for more than  forty years, spoken at women’s retreats and lectureships, and has written both devotional books and class materials. She lives in Lake Butler, Florida, with her husband Keith.


    Categories

    All
    A Wives Series
    Bible People
    Bible Study
    Birds & Animals
    Book Reviews
    Camping
    Children
    Cooking Kitchen
    Country Life
    Discipleship
    Everyday Living
    Faith
    Family
    Gardening
    Grace
    Guest Writer
    History
    Holiness
    Humility Unity
    Materialism
    Medical
    Music
    Prayer
    Psalms
    Salvation
    Trials

    Archives

    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly