I rember so clearly almost 4 yrs. ago, my Mom looked at me when she visited my new home and saw a dead rose bush in my backyard. As she looked out my patio door she told me, "Don't cut down that rose bush even though it's dead." About 8 months later she unexpectantly passed away from liver disease. Needless to say, my husband and I decided to never remove the eye sore of the lifeless rose bush. I was so excited last spring when some roses for the first time since we lived there, bloomed. It was a wonderful reminder of my mother's words. This spring was an even greater sight to see. Keep in mind, we have never watered or pruned or whatever is required to make roses blossom. As I was texting a picture to my family of the beautiful gift sent from my mother, I realized how symbolic the life of such beauty was born without my efforts - how something once dead had been revived into something beautiful I never knew could exist. There have been challenges in my adult life, there has been confusion and fear, but it has been in my darkness that I have discovered a greater understanding of God's light. To love unconditionally is a challenge in itself. To understand unconditional love is freightening. It has been in my darkest moments that I have been able to understand the need to just trust God. As I stumbled around for months at a time, overwhelmed and lonely, I was determined that once my circumstances changed all would be well. Don't get me wrong, I was always full of hope and confidence that in due time, my family would be stronger, faithful and confident. What I didn't realize is that I was not joyfully waiting. Going back to the analogy of the lifeless rose bush - it was as though I was excited about the future outcome that one day beautiful roses would bloom - but the lifeless bush continued to be an eye sore - full of thorns that could pierce me with pain as I maintained our yard. But whenever I would look at the bush recalling the beautiful words of hope from my mother saying, "Don't cut that bush even though it's dead" that bush would bring a smile to my face and I didn't want to even try to part with it's beauty. So in the same way, I was able to associate the beauty of my mother's words with this once lifeless bush - I am now able to accept the challenges of my family life. I must trust that God will protect my heart and my family each day. God is the one that prunes and nourishes our family. There is beauty in each of my family members that I must focus on and just simply enjoy, there is no work for me to do, just enjoy who they are and why I am better for knowing them.
I trust in God at all times. I pour out my heart before him; God is a refuge for me.
Psalm62:8
My challenge for today will be to explore an area that causes great stress. Meditate on this area and speak the words Trust, Surrender, Believe, Receive. I learned this from a church retreat and now understand it's power. Speak the words in meditation I trust that God will offer me guidance. I surrender my struggle. I believe that God will offer me peace in my struggle. I receive the peace, joy and love that God is offering me. Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You for allowing me to seek Your wisdom in my confusion. Please clear my mind so that I am able to hear Your voice and instruction in my daily life. Thank you for the breath that I breathe and for having another day to become the person you have created me to be. Amen.
© 2011 by Christina Valdez. All rights reserved
Lovely thoughts!
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