Leaves of Gold
Leaves of gold are falling generously from our large ash tree. The landscape is covered with a richly colored carpet that wasn’t there two weeks ago. The cold temperatures of the past several nights have caused lush green leaves to turn quickly to their golden autumn splendor. Around the neighborhood leaves on liquidambars and Japanese maples have also taken on richer hues before falling to the ground. The beauty around me blesses my heart and makes me grateful.
In a similar way the chilly nights of unexpected challenges in our lives can cause a deepening and a richening in the colors others observe in us. When difficulties lead us closer to our Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth, it causes us to reflect His beauty, whether we realize it or not. Sometimes the challenges we experience are there to strengthen our faith. Other times they’re there to teach us lessons that build good character. But I think there are some things that God just wants to use to bless others, much like leaves of gold falling from an ash tree have blessed me.
Lord, when I go through challenges in my life, help me to remain faithful to You. May the resulting beauty be like a richly colored carpet that is a blessing to everyone – especially You. Amen
Sweeter Than Honey
This morning, for the first time in a few weeks, I picked up my kitty Daisy and took her outside for our regular stroll through the garden. At first her whole body was tense as she tried to twist away from me. But with each step down the four stairs to the garden she relaxed, and as I walked across the back deck she melted peacefully into my arms. She loves looking at all the plants and flowers – but most of all she loves seeing all the birds flitting around the bird-feeders.
Slowly we strolled along the grass and garden paths, observing as many details as we could take in. I gently spoke to her, pointing out this pretty flower or that little bird; a sweet time together.
As we rounded the path at the very back of the garden, my eyes fell on one of my scripture rocks: “Genesis 3:8 The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden…” As I read these words I realized that the Lord Himself – today – was walking with me through the garden, cradling me in His arms just as I was doing with Daisy.
Oh, how I had missed these quiet everyday strolls with the Lord in the weeks gone by! I thought about how I, like Daisy, would tensely try to twist away from my Lord’s arms because I had “so much to do” each day. And as I’d turned back and run into the house on those days, I’d missed out on sweet times of conversation with the Lord that had been meant for just the two of us. And there is nothing sweeter to me than my times with my Lord and hearing His voice.
So, with my heart and mind re-set, Daisy and I and the Lord continued our stroll through the garden, resting and relaxing in each other’s arms, listening to His voice, ready to face whatever might come today.
Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Lord, thank You for Your patience as You wait for me to turn my heart and mind toward You. Thank You for cradling me in Your arms as You walk with me through the garden of this life. Amen.
DUELING SQUIRRELS
I heard a commotion in the garden a few days ago. Two little squirrels were chasing each other up and down and all around our podocarpus trees. They were so quick! They ran from limb to trunk, trunk to limb, up one side, down the other, leaping and scrambling, making it hard to see who was pursuing and who was pursued. There was definitely a deep dislike between these two squirrels and they weren’t going to settle for peaceful cohabitation. As big as this place is, there just wasn’t enough space for the two of them.
Eventually, one of the squirrels ran off. He probably realized that even if he tried to hang around he wouldn’t be able to eat a leisurely meal. Once he’d gone, the remaining squirrel sat up on a high branch, bark-chattering to himself, most likely because he was upset by what he’d just experienced. It took a while, but soon enough he settled down and got back to business: eating. He now had the garden (and the bird feeders) all to himself.
A bit later I walked through the garden and noticed something out of place: some furry object was in the “fly-through” bird feeder. This wire feeder has big holes in the middle of it for little birds to fly through. But one of the holes was filled with fur…that moved! I approached slowly to take a closer look, when suddenly a furry face peered out of the other side of the feeder. Ah! It was the little squirrel with his body wedged through the hole, his head on one side of the feeder, his tail on the other! When he saw me, he had the most startled, guilty expression on his face, almost as if he’d been caught with his hand (or paw) in the cookie jar! Quickly, he scrambled up the chain that held the feeder, leaped across the branch it was attached to and jumped up high into the upper reaches of the tree to safety. He’d realized he really didn’t have the garden all to himself.
This little scene made me think about the story of Joseph in the Bible. He and his eleven brothers did not get along, mostly because they were jealous of him. Their dad made it clear Joseph was his favorite and his brothers didn’t like that at all. As their jealousy grew they eventually plotted to get rid of him. They probably thought that if Joseph was out of the way they could have their father all to themselves. When the opportunity arose, they chased Joseph down and sold him to slave-traders headed to Egypt. The brothers then lied to their father, leading him to believe Joseph had been killed, thinking their “secret” would be safe forever. But they didn’t realize that God, Who sees and knows everything, saw all that had happened. Nothing is hidden from His eyes. Years later when they were caught in their deception and they met Joseph face to face, they regretted all they’d done. You see, none of us ever has the garden all to ourselves. Good thing, too. Although they intended it for evil, God used it for good.
Lord, help me to never act independently, thinking You won’t see what I’m doing. I don’t want to be caught with my hand in the cookie jar when I see You face to face. Amen