Note: This post was inspired by my divorce and emotional healing years ago. I hope it illustrates the choice we have whether to be bitter or better. Although the choice is ours, the Lord completes the process and provides the healing. It is truly astonishing what the Lord can accomplish in us when we allow it.
It has been a long, hard winter here in Oklahoma and in many other locations. The early blooming flowers are such a welcome sight. Usually when I first notice my early bloomers, the flower beds still have the old, dead vegetation and a carpet of old leaves. Then, I have the incentive to clear them out as I do not want the new growth hindered. Also, I can view two flower beds from my kitchen windows and it is difficult to see the new flowers appearing through the old vegetation, which is also unsightly.
We all have winter periods in our lives that sometimes last months or years, but spring always comes. Particularly when emerging from hurtful situations with other people, such as a divorce, it is best to take what we can learn out of the situation and go forward without dwelling on what has transpired. It reminds me of the flower beds - embrace the new season and get rid of the dead, useless, and unsightly stuff (our negative emotions, unforgiveness, bitterness) that may hinder us. Voltaire stated "Life is thickly sown with thorns, and I know no other remedy than to pass quickly through them. The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us."
With the Lord's assistance during and emerging from a winter season is the cleanest way one can come through. By prayer and reading the Bible (I especially like the Psalms during difficult times), He will heal your hurts and wounds and clear out the unsightly stuff. While you may feel like a dead, dry, brittle flower, He will help you have the ability to bloom again.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on. . . Philippians 3:14 NIV
This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays at http://www.bloggerspirit.blogspot.com
That is such a wonderful illustration of God's renewal in our lives. Bless you sister!
ReplyDeleteLove this post. We can "wallow" in the past, or emerge with the new. Love the scripture from Philippians.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Joan
I love the flowers as symbolic of reemerging and renewal! Lovely!
ReplyDeletelove,kelee @ www.katillacshack.com
What a lovely comparison. How much we learn from the garden and the word! I was in the coffee shop last week and saw an acquaintance last week. She told me she had just gone through a divorce with her husband of over 20 years. She was happy that she was able to tell me about without crying. I said a prayer for her inside and wished her the best. May you continue to experience his healing.
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring post. I love your attitude. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Charlotte
What a wonderful and encouraging post! Thank you for sharing your heart and I pray you will have a beautiful weekend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Sandi
This is such a wonderful analogy. Thank-you for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Ginger
Wonderful. Great message. (Side note: I grew up in Oklahoma. I have been gone for many years but I still love Oklahoma and have a heart full of wonderful memories.)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking similar thoughts today, as I was pulling weeds. This is a beauitully written post with pictures of beautiful flowers! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeletegreat post...and love those pictures.
ReplyDeleteLoved this insightful post!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing such a wonderful, and encouraging post. Have a blessed Sunday!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great analogy! It HAS been a hard winter but spring is on the way.:)
ReplyDeleteI just heard a quote today ~ Jesus is not interested in where we have been...He is inTerested in where we are going! Beautiful flowers...Spring is so wonderful with everything being brought to life again.
ReplyDeleteOh this is so beautiful, Busy Single Mom! Such strong, powerful words! I remember Elisabeth Elliott used to say on her radio program, (she's a missionary's wife) "Peace lies in contentment"...if we accept whatever place we are at the quicker comes the peace and the healing!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing ...I love the analogy with the flowers poking through the winter's rubbish!
Hugs, Carolyn ~ Cottage Sunshine
Thanks for sharing your beauiful spring blossoms! This post was touching to me, as I know all too well the pain of divorce and emotional heartache you refer to. God's healing is amazing, isn't it? I just planted some daffodil bulbs a friend gave me... I can't wait till next spring! For now, I'll enjoy this summer.
ReplyDelete