Tucked Under the Leaves

Psalm 59:16-17

But I will sing of your strength,
    in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
    my refuge in times of trouble.

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.

Our neighbor knocked on the door the other evening. He stopped by to share the news we had a nest of baby bunnies in my flower bed. Since we both have dogs, he wanted us to be aware, so Rosie wouldn’t bother it.

Tim and I took a peek and saw the little babies nestled inside under a tumble of gray fur and grass. The next morning, we went to check on them, and one of them hopped out. Of course I squealed like a child filled with joy. The little guy was adorable and big enough to take on the wild world of nature.

I’m not sure why the momma chose to place her babies in my flower bed, tucked under the yarrow leaves, but I’m glad she did. Maybe the soft leaves gave her a feeling of security. Whatever the reason, I’m thankful we got to witness the beauty of the baby bunny and the joy of new life.

As a momma myself, I wanted to tuck my babies into a secure place and protect them from the world. Yet, I knew instead I needed to trust the One who shelters me. As the kids grew up and discovered themselves and secured a relationship with God, I prayed as I sent them into the world that God would protect and shield them. Now, our grandchildren have or are leaving the nest, and I pray over them daily.

God is the refuge in this crazy life.

Seek Him as your shelter.

I'm Glad I Paid Attention

Toadshade trillium sprinkle the forest floor. 

It's more common in Ohio's woods and visible in the spring. 

On our hikes we'd seen several of them. 

One day I read a post about the trillium flexipes and it's presense in Ohio parks, 

but I'd never seen one, until this week.

Tim and I walked along the trail, 

and as usual I was on the lookout for new spring plants.

If I hadn't been paying attention, I would have missed this beauty. 

A foot from the gravel path, in the grass, the trillium flexipes nodded at me. 

What a pleasant surprise. 

When I pay attention, God often surprises me with joy. 

Trillium flexipes

Toadshade Trillium

Dilly's Garden

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.

Grandchildren remind me of flowers. Over time, they bloom and grow into themselves. We are blessed to have wonderful grandchildren who respect us and help us. I don’t take that for granted. We give credit to their parents who have raised them to love God and love people.

A few months ago, I mentioned I would need help in my little flower garden. I like to play in the dirt, but I can’t do what I used to. My granddaughter Dylan volunteered. April zipped in after the flurry of March, and I stopped in Lowe’s for some garden soil. Of course, I got distracted by the colorful perennials and purchased a pink and a purple columbine and a pretty pincushion flower.

I sent Dylan a text that Sunday and she came on Monday. This young lady knelt in the dirt, planted flowers, dug out others, moved a few, sprinkled seeds and smiled. When she stood, she was covered in dirt and mulch and she looked lovely, because she wore humbleness and helpfulness in all its glory.

Dylan graduates high school this year, and I know she’ll bloom into whoever God intends her to be. She already has a great start, a wonderful work ethic, and kindness for others.

I’m calling this section of my flower bed, Dilly’s garden, and I’ll be blessed each time I admire my granddaughter’s work.

If you have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or any children you love in your life, show them how to love others without wanting something in return. Teach them to help others by helping them. Show kindness and kindness will blossom and show appreciation.

We all have someone in our lives to nurture. The best way is to share the love of Jesus.

In the Details

On a walk this week, I noticed how pretty the maple tree seeds 

(we always called them helicopters) appeared. 

When the leaves bud and begin to grow, the tree releases the

helicopters, and they twirl to the ground.

Does anyone else remember trying to catch them?

God's handiwork never ceases to amaze me.

When those seeds fall to the forest floor, more trees grow.

When they fall into the hands of a child, they entertain their imagination.

What small detail of God's creation have you noticed this week?

 

Breathtaking

Revelation 22:1-5
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Behold the beauty.

Have you ever seen something so breathtaking you can’t look away?

On our walk, through Sycamore Park, the Virginia bluebells are in full bloom. A day after the solar eclipse, we trekked along the paved trail where there are signs to stay on the path and not walk in the wooded area. The park personnel are working to restore the flora and fauna. This particular day, the sky clouded and light rain fell. In that lighting, the blue of the bluebells shone in gorgeous contrast to the spring green.

All along the path, I couldn’t stop looking at the beautiful shade of blue that blanketed many areas in the woods. You just don’t see blue flowers that often and when they’re in clusters, they are simply stunning.

As in awe as I am of floral beauty, I can’t begin to imagine the splendor of heaven. We catch glimpses of what John saw in his vision in Revelation. A river, a tree filled with fruit, eternal light from God himself, oh the glory. The picture painted in Revelation 22 pours hope into my soul. Nature’s beauty in perfect harmony will surround us in heaven.

I hope as you imagine heaven, you see yourself standing at the throne and praising God. I want to sit by the river and bask in God’s light and taste the sweet fruit of His presence.

Take a moment from the chaos of this life, imagine heaven, and fill up on hope.

What's in the Woods?

I love to hike in the woods with Tim and Rosie in the spring. 

The wild flowers are poking their heads out of the ground.

Their blooms are not as glamorous as the tulips or the daffodils, 

but they're just as beautiful. 

When I see the toadshade trillium and the yellow trout lily, 

I know spring has arrived.

I also spotted the delicate, lavender blossoms of Jacob's ladder and flox.

God created so many lovely blooms for us to enjoy and appreciate.

Take a hike and discover what's in the woods.

 

The Tree's Knees

Psalm 46:1-7

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

The trees had knees.

In Congaree National Park, my daughter, Maggie, my grandchildren, Dylan and Zeke, and I hiked along the boardwalk over the swampy areas. I’d never seen anything quite like the park. The other-worldly feeling made me wonder when the dinosaurs or gnomes might appear.

Maggie and her family had visited the park before, and she knew I’d love it. And I did. The vegetation was like nothing I’d seen before. The trees were huge and fascinating. The Cyprus trees appeared to wear pleated skirts, and they were surrounded by little stumpy looking knees. Maggie told me the knees grow up from the roots and help anchor the trees in the muddy soil, so they offer the tree an extra layer of strength against the wind and storms. The knees also act like a protection against erosion, which reminds me of how God anchors me and provides protection and strength.

The verse that mentions the nations in an uproar and the kingdoms falling brings to mind the headlines today. So much turmoil is in the world, yet in the Congaree National Park, I felt God’s protection and presence, especially when we encountered a timber rattler.

With God as my refuge, I embraced His presence in the forest, and I hold tight to it today, at home. He is my strength and He holds me in His hands.

Wherever you are, if you are a child of God, He sees you and cares for you.

New Life!

As I walked around my flowers, after a rain, 

I considered the new life blooming this spring.

The daffodils nodded and the tulips opened to the sky.

They embraced the rain and the sunshine. 

They withstood the storms and the wind.

As a new creation or an old one like me, 

I can withstand life's storms 

as I cling to the one who created me.

Thank you, Jesus.

 

Children's Book Day!

Children's books are works of art and heart.

 Have you read Betsy and/y Bailey, a bilingual English & Spanish 

story of twin sisters who discover the differences that drive them crazy 

are the characteristics they love most in each other?

Read with a child today and be blessed.

 

Illustrator, Hannah Wickline, had the privilege 

of reading the story to children in Guatemala.