Welcome to another week!
The sporadic snow over the past couple weeks makes me appreciate wildflowers. My daffodils were in full bloom before it snowed. Now they’re dead. My forsythia was chartreuse one day and mustard the next. The prettiest blooms don’t fare well in bad weather. But they’re not the only yellow flowers in the Atlantic community.
I’ve noticed coltsfoot lining ditches while I take my walks. I’ve also seen a few dandelions. Some people consider these weeds; I prefer to call these wildflowers. And I value wildflowers’ beauty even more than the loveliness of cultivated plants.
The way I see it, God plants wildflowers. No one has to buy potting soil or weed around wildflowers. They grow on their own perennially, and often survive harsh weather. My favorite wildflower is chicory, largely because it is blue, my favorite color. I’ve seen chicory last from June to October. That’s impressive, considering even the hardiest wildflowers only last four to six weeks, while cultivated flowers may only last two. I’m always sad to see my daffodils fade and fall.
The way coltsfoot and dandelions survived the recent snow reminds me of how Christians are called to trust God when life gets hard. The most faithful Christians in my life are the ones who have survived the toughest things life throws at people. You know what I mean: deaths, diseases, failed marriages, financial disasters, and so on. Some people collapse under the stress of these terrible situations. Some lose their faith or blame God. But the faithful believers I’m thinking of stayed true to Jesus no matter what. That’s not to say they didn’t get angry or feel like God had given them more than they could handle, but they didn’t give up on him either.
Coltsfoot, dandelions, and chicory endure. They stick it out. I hope you’ll strive to have dandelion faith, not daffodil faith. I’m in this with you.
Don’t forget to include Kennard United Methodist’s ham loaf dinner in your weekend plans. It’s on Saturday, April 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. The price for the meal, including dessert, is $7.00 for adults and $3.50 for children.
And please remember to vote on Tuesday, April 26. Polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voting is a privilege.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!