We had not been living in Texas very long after our move from Iowa in July, 1982, when my wife’s parents (Henry and Mildred) drove from their home in Gary, Indiana, to visit us in Plano, Texas. My father-in-law was interested in knowing about the area, so during the visit I drove him around to show him some of the sightseeing highlights. It just so happened at that time that my maternal grandfather, who was then over 100 years old, still lived by himself in nearby Lewisville, Texas. So, one day Henry and I drove the approximate twenty miles to check on and visit with my granddad.
The drive back to Plano was on a two-lane highway. Off to the side of the road we noticed that a local farmer was selling fruit from his road-side stand. It was summer, and I could just imagine the delicious taste of a nice, freshly- picked, juicy, ice-cold watermelon. We stopped and bought one of those watermelons!
The farmer also had cantaloupe, bedding plants, and some iris bulbs for sale. We selected several cantaloupes. Because my wife loves flowers, we also bought a handful of the iris bulbs, which Henry helped me select. My wife planted the bulbs hoping for blooms the next spring; I didn’t think much more about it.
The iris (Iris xiphium) symbolizes hope, cherished friendship and valor, and is the inspiration for the fleur-de-lis (a lily flower). A gift of iris bulbs brings hope with each returning spring.
Well, the next spring we were greeted with beautiful, deep purple blooms from those iris bulbs. Every spring for each of the following thirty-five plus years we lived in Texas we were blessed by those beautiful purple flowers those bulbs produced as they spread and filled the flowerbed. God told His creation to be “fruitful and multiply”. The irises heard and obeyed Him, because over the years they increased from that handful of flowering bulbs to dozens— enough to give many away and still have dozens!
We even brought some bulbs with us when we moved back to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 2017. (We moved back into the same house we had lived in there from 1967 to 1982! ) We planted the iris bulbs we had brought with us, and they have bloomed here in their beautiful purple color each spring since…they have come up once again this year, and we await the burst of the beautiful purple color they will display!
Sometimes God allows tragic events like 9-11 and now the COVID-19 pandemic to occur as the inevitable march toward fulfillment of His prophecies take place. Those events scream loudly, grab the attention of millions, get front-page news coverage, and are remembered vividly.
Spring is a season of warming weather and nature coming back to life. Flowers bloom and animals are born, reminding us of the innocence and beauty that exists in this world. New life is all around us. As Christians, we are given new life and new mercies every morning. Let this Spring provide a wonderful reminder that we should be living a full life and leaving the old dead parts of life behind.
In one of GOD’S OTHER WAYS©, the Lord speaks to us through the “silent screams” of the beauty of His creation. As Spring “has sprung” this year, be still and listen to hear His message!
- Kenneth R. Kersey
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Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12 NLT
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20 NLT
Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. Matthew 6:28-29 NLT
Photo by Kouji Tsuru on Unsplash