![]() Today I am honored to have Nicole from Motherhood Confessions as my guest. She wise and a this great combination of funny and real, I just know you'll love her! She stays home with her two kids and works part time from home for Catalyst in Illinois. Here's a little bit about her in her own words. You can also find her on facebook. Blueberries from Blossoms"Whether it was fishing, gardening, or picking blueberries fresh off the bush, my Grandpa was probably the person in my life who best taught me about how to enjoy God's creation. I don't know if "loss" is an emotion, but that's what I felt when he passed away just a couple of weeks ago. After the news of his death, I spent some time wandering through his backyard and the place where a vibrant garden used to be. It was now overgrown with weeds, with no sign of the strawberries, tomatoes and green beans that had delighted me as a child. I was overcome with sadness. But then, I wandered over to my Grandpa's beloved blueberry bushes. I did not expect to see any blueberries there, as it was only April. But I stopped in front of a twig, and studied it closely. And there they were. No, not blueberries... Blueberry blossoms. I was pretty sure I had never seen a blueberry blossom before…probably because I had never bothered to look. I was suddenly in awe at the inner workings of it all and how the little flower protected all the “magic” going on inside. What an exceptional design!I was captivated by such beauty in the midst of this dying backyard. Then I heard God whisper to my heart. “I make all things new”. Slowly, I felt as though I were being lifted from my sadness and invited into something higher, something TRUER. As I stared at the blossom, I realized I was witnessing a miracle…a miracle far greater than if I had seen actual blueberries on that bush. This miracle held a promise that in the midst of a groaning world, a dying garden, and a broken heart, there IS Life. If we will only choose to see it. It reminds me of this verse: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). As Ray Stedman puts it, “Paul's argument here is very simple. The visible things of this life are but transient manifestations of abiding realities which cannot now be seen. If the transient form can exist, surely the reality behind it exists”. In other words, we must not focus on the thing we are looking at, but the truth behind it. I think God wanted me to see something that day…something even more “unseen” than that little blossom. Death brings forth life. Night leads to dawn. Winter produces spring. OVER AND OVER again. Grief is a tough journey. I cringe when someone says that death is just a “natural part of life”. It’s the most unnatural thing a person can experience. Death has nothing to do with life – it’s a part of the curse of this world. “For the wages of sin is death… …But the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (Romans 6:23) For now, we will have to endure death and separation in this life. We will experience long winters…and dying gardens. And when it happens, our souls will groan. Jesus wept. The disciples wept. For a time, the finality of death leads us to believe it has won. And we will weep. But, when we’re ready, we can lift our eyes and cling to the hope that Spring is in our midst. God is speaking this truth to us every day, if we’ll only open our eyes to see it. The promise of new Life will manifest itself. Somewhere. Somehow. And we WILL taste the sweetness of the harvest once again." What a privledge to have Nicole share how she has seen the Lord reveal Himself through His creation. Don't forget to pop on over to Motherhood Confessions to say Hi. Check out the rest of the series
21 Comments
5/6/2012 04:01:52 pm
Those beautiful berries grow and develope because they derive their sustance from the main vine. Likewise we draw from Jesus for our strenght.
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5/6/2012 10:52:42 pm
This is beautiful! I loved so many things about it, but the words that captured my heart this morning are these: Grief is a tough journey. I cringe when someone says that death is just a “natural part of life”. It’s the most unnatural thing a person can experience. Death has nothing to do with life – it’s a part of the curse of this world. “For the wages of sin is death…
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I didn't expect to be crying about blueberry blossoms this morning...
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5/7/2012 12:49:19 am
Oh Holly, I'm so glad you related to this. God is so good to us isn't He? :)
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5/7/2012 10:00:28 am
"There is life in the midst of a dying garden, a groaning world, a broken heart... We must focus on the truth behind what we see."
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5/7/2012 04:05:48 pm
beautiful! Romans 6:23 is one of my favorite verses :) glad I found you - we are linked up at several of the same places!
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5/8/2012 09:21:35 am
This was beautiful and brought back some sweet memories of my own grandfather. Love the use of the 2 Corinthians verse.
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5/13/2012 12:40:31 pm
Thanks Kelli - grandparents are such an amazing gift aren't they?!
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5/9/2012 04:20:41 am
In the midst of a dying garden there is life. I like this and I want to be more observant of the new life all around me. He DOES make all things new!
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5/13/2012 12:42:26 pm
It's amazing to me how much life really does exist in the midst of the brokenness, if we'll only choose to notice it. It's what gives me hope in the things yet to come!! :)
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5/13/2012 11:34:57 am
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post with us - it's being featured at this week's Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy!
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5/13/2012 12:44:47 pm
To God be the glory for He is rich in faithfulness. Thank you so much!
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5/13/2012 12:08:26 pm
I read this post last week, and thought I commented. But then when I saw it posted on Inspire Me Monday I read again...and don't know the reason I got sidetracked from commenting before-but love this perspective...and the blueberry blossom...when we see the unseen- truly beautiful, by His grace alone! May He be your joy, comfort and hope always. In His Grace, Dawn
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5/13/2012 12:46:19 pm
THank you for taking the time to comment, Dawn...My prayer is the same for you as well!
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