It’s Only the Early Days

It’s only the early days of the month of July, and already we’re reminded of why we prefer the spring or fall months – it’s the humidity. Especially since the humidity seems to drag excessive heat with it. Time to head for the swimming hole!
A few weeks ago, in the early morning, I was exasperated upon opening the back door to find that there had been a visitor in the night – a hungry deer. Earlier this spring, a clump of wildflowers known as evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) suddenly appeared near the door, which promised to provide some bright yellow flowers in the early light of each dawn through the summer. Alas, those plants were suddenly about six inches shorter and kind of ugly looking. Bambi had had a great feast in the night! By now, several weeks have passed. Imagine my pleasure when I find new flower buds and healthy leaves have formed around the stumps of the chewed stems. And, soon, bright yellow flowers will open at dusk. One has to admire such perseverance.
Indeed, it’s well to reflect on perseverance. Although we might not get chewed down and look a wreck – thankfully – we do occasionally get a little gnawed on and feel a wreck. We face medical problems, or challenging relationships, or fearful situations. At times it seems to require almost more strength and effort than we can muster to keep fighting to recover or get past the situation. More pain than we want to endure, when the future is too dim to see the light. We need perseverance.
Do wildflowers have a sense of God’s watching over them? Do they consciously gain strength using His restorative power? A good question for when we cross over to meet our Creator. In the meantime, do we, as we deal with the tests of a lifetime, sense His watching over us? He has surely given us a much more complex brain than the wildflowers, wonderfully made and capable of amazing awareness, able to build strong faith and comforting trust. Which is easy when things are going well. But there are times when we get really cut down. No matter whether our challenges be physical or emotional, of our own making or arising to confront us from unanticipated sources, a strong need for His presence and gift of perseverance arises. Solutions to our problems may come quickly or take a long time. They may leave scars or sensitive spots. But, through it all, these are the times when we should be acutely aware of God’s presence – and His gift of perseverance – in our lives.
As the summer passes by, and the rough places arise, we hope that, in the end, we all will be sharing some bright blossoms – or, at least, grateful smiles, - thanks to the many blessings – including perseverance – that our Saviour, in His great love, has granted us. Virginia

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 2 Peter 1:5-7