DebraJ
Early Morning Blessings
I woke up early this morning – early for me. I’m grateful for that because it’s going to be over 100 today and I wanted to do my watering while it was still cool. So I got my coffee and scooped up Daisy-kitty for our regular morning garden walk. The early morning garden has a lush beauty not seen later in the day. Soft shadows and rich colors abound. As we walked I thanked the Lord for waking me up early so I could enjoy this blessing.
We were nearly finished with our walk when Daisy tensed and focused, carefully watching something by the shed. I saw nothing, but strained to see what it might be. We stood there together patiently watching for more movement when I saw her: a little lizard busily moving between and around two rocks that lined the path. I couldn’t figure out what she was doing. Was she stalking and eating bugs? Maybe fighting another lizard? No! She was moving dirt and pebbles around, using front legs and back to sweep it all into a mound between the two rocks. Examining it more closely after she was gone, I decided she must have just laid her eggs and covered them carefully so none could see her newly made nest. This was so cool and a first for me! Early mornings provide unexpected blessings! New life is coming!
When we went up the back steps to go inside, I looked to see if the chrysalis on our deck rail might be ready to birth it’s Monarch Butterfly. Sure enough, the chrysalis was completely transparent, with Monarch wings clearly visible inside. New life was imminent here, as well!
Daisy and I went in the house and a few minutes later I glanced at the chrysalis through the window. It was happening! The butterfly was pushing open the chrysalis before my eyes!
I called Keith to come quickly and watch with me, and in less than a minute the Monarch pushed his way out of his safe and secure chrysalis. However, instead of grasping the edges of his former home when he emerged as he was supposed to do, he missed it completely and fell to the ground with a plop! Now I knew why I’d been given this early morning blessing: so I could be a blessing! Quickly I went outside, found a leaf and put it under his little legs so he could grab it. Once he was safely latched on, I transferred him to a nearby plant where he’d be able to hang out until he was ready to fly.
You see, newly emerged Monarchs must be able to hang out for a few hours, allowing the fluid from their abdomens to flow freely into their wings, causing them to unfurl straight and strong. If they can’t hang, their wings never straighten and dry permanently crumpled so they can’t fly. Those first few hours of their lives are crucial in determining how they will live the rest of their lives. All they’re supposed to do is abide in that safe place, gaining strength for what’s ahead.
That’s true for me, too. I need to abide in my safe place – the loving arms of my Lord – to gain strength for what’s ahead for me. Each day. Every day. It’s there that my crumpled life unfurls with His love and grace. My eyes are once again opened to His eternal perspective…His holiness…His desires for me…His incredible blessings. “New every morning” blessings. So I can be a blessing.
Lord, thank You that as I abide in You, resting in Your safe and loving presence, I gain strength for what is ahead. I’m so grateful that You also abide in me and will never leave. Amen Fresh from it's chrysalis
Two hours old and stretching his wings
The Same – Yesterday, Today, Forever
I was talking with my friend the other day, when Keith walked over and brought me our kitty, Daisy. She’d been crying at the back door and wanted to be with me, her “mom”, and to go for a stroll through the garden. So I took Daisy in my arms, left my friend and started on our little walk.
As we passed the dolphin fountain I heard a sweet yet strong “peep – peep – peep” and knew there was a baby bird nearby. I tilted my head to try to discern where the sound was coming from. A bit concerned, I realized the sound was coming from a low bushy area in that lush garden. Quickly my eyes fixed on a slight movement, and there to my delight and relief was our resident “baby” hummingbird sitting on a low lilac tree limb. (This is the same little guy I wrote about last week.) His long beak was open wide and he “peep, peep, peeped” while looking at his mom who sat close to him. Clearly he wanted to be fed. The mom knew what her youngster wanted but warily watched me as I held a kitty in my arms. I took a step away from the pair which gave the mom assurance that we wouldn’t be a threat. Satisfied, she turned and fed her young one, who contentedly ate up his mother’s care.
How long will this continue, I wondered? How old will this little one be when the mom stops feeding him and caring for his needs?
As I have so often of late, I thought about the care our Heavenly Father has for us; how He wants us to grow strong in Him yet, regardless of age, carries us and feeds us in times of great difficulty. In the past three days we’ve received news of great sadness that has impacted the lives of several friends and family members: a mom, who had already lost one child, learned that her son had been tragically killed in a bicycle accident; a daughter who unexpectedly lost her mom to a massive stroke; a friend, who had been in ineffective physical therapy for a year and a half, is told she has a mass that has been causing her problems all along; another mom with a child whose choices have led to possible jail time and the conception of an unplanned, unexpected child.
Each one of these dear women is like that young hummer opening its mouth wide, calling out, “Here I am: feed me, please feed me. Oh, Lord how I need You. ” Some of them have walked as servants of the Lord, ministering in His name for many years; some are young in the faith. Yet regardless of how long they have known Him, the Lord hears every cry, sees each tear and cares for all of them tenderly. They are His dear children. He is with them in the darkness of each situation, providing comfort and peace beyond understanding, working to bring good out of the pain.
I’ve used this scripture before but it seems so appropriate today. Cling to these promises today, my dear sisters in the Lord.
Isaiah 49: 15 – 16a: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…”
Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
First Day of Spring
Today is the first day of spring and our garden bore witness to that with full glory! Winter blooming flowers, like azalea and pink jasmine, still showed their brightest and best. Clivia, alstromoeria and roses stated spring has indeed sprung! Amidst the riot of color a young hummingbird that fledged from his nest just last week, fed himself happily at the red pentas growing next to the place where I sat praying. He isn’t yet strong enough to fly and feed non-stop and so he rests often. As I pray and watch him, he rests on a pentas branch, under leaves of his exact size and shape. The perfect camouflage. As I ask the Lord to grow me and mature me in love and knowledge of Him, the youngster’s mom flies over and feeds him! It seems her job is not finished when her young ones fledge and always knows just where they are and when they’re in need.
And neither is God’s job finished with us, regardless of how long we’ve been growing in our faith. He will feed us when He knows that the struggle ahead is too much for us. He will give us just what we need when our physical and spiritual reserves have been taxed to the limit. He is faithful, the best Father one can ever hope to have, carefully watching to be sure we grow up strong.
On this first day of spring 2014, how have you seen your Heavenly Father’s care for you? May you rejoice in knowing that “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13