Monday, April 8, 2013

Let Spring In!

In my mind’s eye I see the car rolling up the highway. I hear the whine of the tires as they eat up the road. From the outside, all is calm. Inside, turmoil. Inside, parents clinging to their Jesus, seeking His wisdom. Desperately seeking His wisdom. They drive on, heading to the institution far away, a place they pray will keep their daughter alive.

How will she respond? Only God knows. Only God can provide the healing for a tortured young soul. Only God can bring peace to a family in crisis. Only God can bring the help she so desperately desires.

I weep for my friends. And for so many others who quietly, desperately deal with crisis. May they all seek God’s goodness, seek God’s wisdom, seek God’s grace.

Needing a break from my thoughts and prayers, I step outside. Opening the front door and walking onto the front porch, I run right into it. Spring. Hope. It blooms in my front yard, right outside my living room window. Quickly, I capture the Spring on film, allowing the beauty to erase the fear. Smiling now, I feel peace. Peace in my own heart, peace in the car rapidly eating up the miles.
Back in the house, I open the drapes and let Spring inside. Peace enters with it, for I’m now confident that Hope exists in the car as it eats up the miles. Hope exists in the distant city. Hope exists right in my front yard. Hope exists in my heart. I only need to open the windows of my faith to experience its blooms.

Isaiah 61:1b-3a “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

10 comments:

  1. Oooh! I love this, "Hope exists in my heart. I only need to open the windows of my faith to experience its blooms." What a profound insight, put in words that jump off the page, Nancy. I'm going to open those windows, my friend. I need to experience the blooms that God has waiting for me when I trust Him. :)

    Oh, and so glad to see that you figured out that pesky font issue too. It looks great!

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  2. Thanks, Beth! I can't wait to hear what happens when you open those windows wide. :-)

    The font resolved on its own, thank goodness!

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  3. His creation is so amazing. What a gift to us, to our spirits. A garment of praise -- that's what I want! Thanks, Nancy.

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  4. Amen! Isaiah 55: 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

    Thanks for stopping by, Laura!

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  5. "...let Spring inside. Peace enters with it..."

    Yes. Love this, Nancy! I'm so thankful to experience Spring this way, too. I'm feeling it today (even as I sneeze, ha).

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    1. Thanks, Lisa. Isn't it wonderful when Spring touches the landscape and our souls? Even with allergies (yep, me too!) Spring is a joy! Thanks for stopping by.

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  6. Truly beautiful, Nancy. I love the repetition of the "eating up the miles" and the feeling of movement that evokes. And I second Beth's comment as well : )

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    1. Thank you, Jodi, for the kind words. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. And isn't it wonderful to finally see Spring blooming in our area?

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  7. Thank you for this sweet message of hope, Nancy. I love the way nature whispers God's love to us, don't you? This time of year, especially, He seems to want to remind us that we are made new in Christ and His mercies are new every morning. Praying for your friends and their daughter.

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    1. Thank you, Laura, for you comment and more importantly, you prayers. All went well; in spite of my anxiety, God was and is in control.

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