DebraJ
Wounded Wings
A few months ago Daisy and I were walking through the garden on a very blustery day, when we spotted a weak and disabled monarch butterfly on the ground. It appeared to have recently emerged from its chrysalis but the wind had probably caused it to lose its grip while waiting for its wings to unfurl. This is a crucial time in a butterfly’s life. It must hang for an hour or two while the fluids from it’s abdomen act like an air-pump of sorts, causing its wings to fully unfurl and dry after becoming straight…flat…able to float and fly from flower to flower to feed on nectar and support it’s life. When a monarch loses its grip on the side of its chrysalis, the wings may not fully unfurl and can dry all crumpled up…making it unable to fly…totally disabled. In that state it will soon die from lack of nourishment or being able to fly away from predators.
So, I picked up the butterfly by offering it a twig to grab onto and gently placed it on a nearby plant. I hoped we had happened upon it early on and that it’s wings would continue to open and unfurl and it would soon be able to fly away…living life as God intended.
But checking on it later, the butterfly’s wings had not changed. Our help had come too late…this weak one’s life would soon be over.
That same week I had been studying Romans 15 in the Bible, which begins, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just to please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please himself…”
We who are Christ-followers are to help others (not just butterflies), when they are weak…when winds of adversity have blown them off course and they need help regaining their grip…not judging or being critical when the cares of life have so burdened a brother or sister that their strength has drained away from them, for that will do them no good. Instead, we are to bear with each other (Colossians 3:13) for their good…for their instruction…lifting them up (so to speak) so they can recover and become healthy and whole…strong in their faith, as God intended.
I’m praying our eyes will always be on the lookout for those who are weak…always be ready to step in to help as needs arise. And may we see them early on…so help does not arrive too late. After all…someday the one in need of help might just be you…or me.
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to the needs of those around me. Thank you for the reminder that you did not live to please yourself but instead gave yourself…for us…which is exactly what we needed for life as God intended.
Flimsy Tree Branches
As I prayed down by our cottage earlier this week, I asked the Lord to help me test the spirits, to test and approve what His good, pleasing and perfect will is.
Sitting with my eyes wide open I saw movement in the lower part of our grand Chinese Elm tree. It was our little squirrel testing the way he wanted to take. He was trying to put his full weight on some flimsy, wispy shoots branching directly out of the lower part of the tree trunk. Just putting one paw on them showed they would not handle his weight. Trying again and again to find a way to step out and get to where he wanted to go, he soon learned…by testing…that this wasn’t a good, pleasing or perfect way to take. Pretty soon he turned and pursued another path.
I love that visual. May I also test the steps I want to take, by weighing them in God’s Word. May I no longer be conformed to the things of this world but instead be transformed by the renewing of my mind as I immerse it in His truth. Then I will be able to test and approve what God’s good, pleasing and perfect will is…AND trust that He will direct my path.
1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…”
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Orchids
Today is my houseplant-watering day. I have a green thumb with almost every plant I’ve attempted to cultivate…except orchids. Somehow, over the years, I’ve managed to kill more of these beautiful plants than I want to remember, even though I carefully followed their “low maintenance” instructions.
I have two orchids right now. Kole gave me a gorgeous one for Mother’s Day five weeks ago. Interestingly, this Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchid) had a different set of watering instructions. “Submerge entire pot in water for 5 minutes”, it stated.
Really?
In the past I’d focused on instructions saying to ONLY give it ½ cup of water…make sure water drains through…don’t let it sit in water…if potting soil is still moist don’t water (ok, this last one was also repeated with the new instructions).
So I tried this new method, also, on the one remaining orchid I had not yet killed…but was definitely knocking on death’s door. “What could it hurt?” I thought.
What could it hurt? It might even help!
So, for the past 4 weeks that’s how I watered it. And today I saw…signs of life! A new leaf bud forming in its crown! Sitting and resting in water for a short time is exactly what it needed to begin the renewal process!
Sitting and resting…not focusing on rigorous instructions of “do this” and “not that”. Sitting and resting…abiding…then letting the refreshing, life-giving water flow through…
Is that not what our Lord says to us? Sit and rest with me for a while…be filled and refreshed in my life-giving presence…when it’s time, let me flow through you onto others who are in desperate need of my touch.
If we haven’t taken that time with him…time being immersed in his word that refreshes and restores, we will soon become shriveled like the orchid leaves…wasted…unable to handle even the most basic realities of life (not to mention hopeless situations and cares of this world)…emptied to the point of death.
But if we will take that time, just when we think it’s over, we will see signs of new life…brought by the water of his word…the joy of his presence.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the Spirit of Life that you pour into our hearts. Help us to set aside times daily to sit and rest with you. May we allow you to fill us…refresh us…and open our eyes to see those new signs of life. Come, Lord Jesus, come.