The surprises of Spring...

by Joyce Pelletier
     1 John 3:1 See what love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called ‘Children of God!’ And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 

     Surprises happen when we least expect it. We don’t know what or when it will happen and sometimes the impact shows up days after experiencing it. I’ve read these words a number of times and each time it’s a different observation than before. The Word does that to us. Each of our days, life experiences are similar, however that brings to mind different meanings. 

     So often in reading God’s word the attention often triggers our experience for a different purpose and sometimes it is something we need to pay attention to. Spring is one of my favorite times of year, and I know I’m not alone. Easter comes in spring. It reminds me that the lack of life in Winter seems to be difficult to understand at times. Yet the new snow storms show something mystical and exciting. Like our neighbors who have two precious little girls, they made a snowman family. They all got involved. It was so enlightening. 

     I’ve been somewhat busy with different things and somewhat stressed. I woke up early enough, but was feeling a bit tired as I didn’t get only 3-4 hours sleep the night before. No question, I was pretty tired. When I went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for our special pup, Ollie, I went to the window to open the shade  and looked out the window to see six of my Daffodils had blossomed. It was an amazing start to my day. I had no doubt that God wanted me to remember the best day of the year was here and he surprised me with Daffodils. One of my favorite flowers! And, truth be told, there are many flowers that are my favorite. And, after all it was Easter Morning. Perfect timing after a restless night on not much sleep.

​      The picture that I chose to put with my blog is a four foot high stump in the woods, where Maurice was working and I was with him to try and find something he had lost. I stopped and got my phone out and took a couple of shots of this very unusual masterpiece that God somehow put it in that spot where I was standing and amazed at its artistry. I was flabbergasted at its wonder. I discovered a new masterpiece from God, which some may think it’s ugly, and I think it is an amazing creation, by God, and that in itself is beautifully grown.

     I realized, God didn’t just plant it there, it had been cut down, and somehow it grew into its art form that it was. The details remind me of someone holding onto perhaps a bird, or little child, with what looks like bumpers in a specially made nest. I pondered it for a long while and as I write this blog, God put it there to let me know this is the reminder of God’s protection on his creation of me, of you, of every last person on earth. Could anything be more precious?

     Although one person might think this is an odd impression from a dead tree, with this bump and a lump of wood that shows us how God lavishes us with all that we need. If God so loves the birds of the air, he cherishes us with every flaw, or broken piece of who we are. He’s so there to make us whole again. He gives us the gift of a surprise of daffodils, as well as a dead tree with a very unusual image that adds beauty to a daffodil. What a gift! In all this, we can share with anyone how a surprise of spring is a treasure of God. 

     I wanted to include this picture so I could share beauty in strange things of our world. The purpose of this odd sculpture, also has purpose, as do any thing that come my way. I just need to ponder and ask God for meaning. So much like some of the challenges of my day. It is like finding beautiful after a storm. Or perhaps that after messing up a project, instead of tossing in the fire pit, I could contemplate what happened and wonder what the image turned out to be, like a bird with arms holding its new-born chick.

     Lord, I recognize that sometimes things just don't turn out to what was intended, but looking through the heart of God we can see what Romans 8:28 says, "For to those who love God, who are called into his plan, everything works out for good." that as believers we see the creation as made by the creator and then we will see things differently then hope can be restored. Help us to see the beauty of  all that we see and stop focusing on the not so pretty result by trusting God instead.