flowers Archives - Page 4 of 10

Sunshine Indoors

March 19, 2012 jennifer Gardening

I’ve made some changes in the dining room and our whole family is loving the new look. I have some painting to do and then I’ll share, but I couldn’t resist sharing the daffodils.

Last fall was my first foray into the world of daffodils and these are the first to come up. Ice King is their name. I’m loving the ruffled center of the bloom.

We’ve had a bit of snow this weekend and I’m so glad I rescued them before they froze! They’re looking happy on my table, faces turned toward the window.

My first fresh flowers of the year, picked from our yard. Happy day!

The Way of Tulips

February 23, 2012 jennifer Musings on Life and Beauty

My husband gave me tulips for Valentines Day. I love tulips, love them so much.

There is something about the way tulips bend and reach that speaks to my heart. They lean on each other, they reach out and around to bend toward the light. Sometimes they bow in the middle yet the flower so often lifts its head. I love how gracefully they do this. They are graceful yet strong. They communicate movement, change and pose all at the same time. I love it.

I don’t feel like I’ve been very graceful lately. I’ve been overwhelmed by some of the challenges of motherhood, worried sick about some of my children, tired, anxious. I want to follow the example of my tulips. It’s ok to bend and to lean, but it’s best to still lift your head to the light. So what if I have some things I’m not happy about? That’s all the more reason to seek happiness, to lift my head, to calm my heart and find peace in doing my best, in doing what is most important. All the more reason to put a smile on my face and a bounce in my step, to find delight in little things.

As I’ve watched these flowers for the past week, I’ve been reminded of my favorite Shaker hymn, “Simple Gifts.”

Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free

‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain’d,

To bow and to bend we shan’t be asham’d,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come ’round right.

I guess one of life’s great lessons is coming down happily where we ought to be, even though it isn’t where we thought we’d be, bowing and bending with grace and not shame, trusting that we’ll come ’round right in the valley of love and delight in the end. And trusting God even when the turning feels more like spinning.

Jennifer

Open

August 23, 2011 jennifer Gardening, Musings on Life and Beauty

I got the children off to school this morning and the little ones immediately ran upstairs to play upon returning. I was left in a quiet room with a heart that didn’t feel quiet.

I felt drawn outside for an early morning visit with my flowers. I’ve neglected them lately as the push and pull of “urgent” things has swept back into our lives.

This zinnia caught my eye.

It wasn’t the largest, or the showiest, or the most white. It wasn’t even the prettiest. But it’s shape made me think.

It is open. Reaching for the sun. Like a dainty teacup it sits ready to catch any drops of water that might land within its petals. It’s fully open, the tips of the white petals curling back, reaching, ready, risking. Its stem is tall and straight, thrusting the flower as high as it can reach.

Do I have courage to live this way? Are there areas in which I’m holding back? Am I open, reaching, ready?

It takes faith to open our hearts like this zinnia has opened its petals. It takes faith to live with open hearts, submitting to all that God thrusts upon us. Sometimes the sunlight and rain come gently. Sometimes it scorches or downpours. But a flower’s full beauty comes when it’s open. I have a feeling life’s full beauty (and mine as an individual) comes the same way.

This was a precious reminder for me this morning, a tutoring moment. I have all these mixed up feelings inside. I need to be still and open my heart to what the Lord has in store for me. I must trust that it is wonderful. I must stand tall and straight, open and ready, reaching toward the Light of the World and thirsting for the Living Water.

Like this red dahlia, when we’re open we catch the water. And our souls may be like watered gardens.

Jennifer