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How I Fell in Love With the Lord
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Who are these people?
They praise an unseen God
While I chase worldliness
Their holiness seems odd
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Who are these people?
They give more than they take
While I hoard all I can
and live for my own sake
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Who are these people?
Their joy draws me in
Though I feel unworthy
as His Light reveals my sin
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Who are these people?
They’ve become family
Now old friends think I’m strange
for the Lord adopted me.
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Wendy / 2016
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I remember how I fell in love with the Lord and Lenten roses. Stay with me as I explain why I’ve bunched these together.
The first time I saw a Lenten rose was in the winter of 1991 in the lovely city of Victoria, BC, where I’d stepped onto the back step of our cutesy-character house to hang blankets to air on our clothesline. From there I could see the entire tickety-boo garden next door, and I noticed an unusual flower blooming beside my neighbor’s back porch.
My neighbor grew vegetables.
While my property burst with blooms, his overflowed with edibles. We both boasted a love of organic gardening and often exchanged tips over the fence. But when I asked him what the alien-looking flower was growing in his garden, he shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know. It’s a volunteer of some sort.”
I researched it using the extensive book section in the garden store I worked in. The mystery was solved and my love for Hellebore flowers was born.
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My faith in Jesus came about in a similar way.
I saw Him in the lives of people around me while I attended college. They seemed alien compared to the party crowd I’d hung out with the previous summer. Their sober and peaceful demeanor’s attracted and intrigued me. My curiosity grew, and I bought myself a Bible and searched for a church to attend.
Hellebores remind me of Jesus too.
They stand out in a barren landscape–a promise of eternal spring.
Lenten Rose Blessings ~ Wendy
Do you have a similar story about falling in love with flowers? How about falling in love with the Lord? Feel free to share if you have a moment—you know I love to chat. <3
And if you haven’t read my latest post on my other website (Wendy L. Macdonald.com) and are curious about how old I’ll be after my next birthday—here’s the link:
Even to Your Old Age God Will Sustain You
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P.S. – I have a prayer request for someone I’m concerned about.
Please pray for him to embrace God’s love, peace, and healing.
Thank you. <3
Beautiful post, and I’m praying.
Hugs and Blessings,
Theresa
Thank you, dear Theresa. I’m feeling thankful for a God who does not abandon us and for a present reprieve in the situation. <3
Very nice article! ☺ I am sending my prayers and have a blessed day and weekend!
Thank you, dear Majka. Blessings on your weekend.
Thanks Wendy!
Beautiful, Wendy, and saying a prayer. xxellen
I appreciate your prayers, dear Ellen. <3 Thank you.
What a sweet testimony that “others see Jesus in you.” I love that. Early in our marriage, we had Christian neighbors … and though I was a Christian, I hadn’t grown. And I saw in them and their friends the kind of wife and mother I wanted to be. The kind of person I wanted to be. That’s when I really started following hard after the Lord and wanting to love Him. And I’m praying.
Shelli, I’m also thankful for the good examples older believers have shown me over the years. And reading books like yours is like having coffee with a Proverbs 31 woman. <3 Thank you for your prayers–it's a testy week. But God.
Oh, Wendy … thank you. xoxo
Thanks for this post Wendy, Love the poem. For me it’s the Jack-in-the-pulpit. The first time I saw this plant while hiking through in a woodland area I thought God must have had some free time on His hands and decided to create something very unusual from the rest of the woodland flowers. It’s not something I would cut and put in a vase but I love how it accents the woodland.
It reminded me of Romans 12:2 NLT “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
“God must have had some free time on His hands.”—I like how you put that, Gene. And Romans 12:2 is a perfect reference to the good work He begins in us. Isn’t it a relief to remember He finishes what He starts?
Meanwhile I often wonder what plants He’s completing in Paradise. 🙂
I hear peace and contentment in your writings and poetry, which obviously flows from relationship– it inspires to intimacy with Him. We’ve made things very complicated while His desire has never changed. He still longs to walk with us in the cool of the day, desiring to be with us. Wendy, keep sharing the deep things in this shallow world!
Brad, I want to borrow your phrase: “sharing the deep things in this shallow world”. It would make a great title. Thank you for your encouragement. And I agree God “still longs to walk with us in the cool of the day”. I love this about Him—He’s our Lord, Father, Friend, Savior and God. He is Love.
Fantastic post and photos! I love the comparison of the hellebores and Jesus, two of my favorite things. That top photo is my favorite as I absolutely love that color! I may have to look for that one. Wendy, I can’t imagine anyone not seeing Jesus in all that you do and say. You are strong in your love for the Lord and it shows. Love and hugs, N 🙂 <3
Thank you, dear Natalie. <3 I also like the first color best. And I look forward to seeing, through your blog, what blooms in your garden. God was generous to create such a variety of flowers & trees etc. Blessings & hugs.
You’re welcome! 😊❤️
How wonderful to fall in love with a flower! I have fallen in love with my father’s favourite flower – the graceful calla lily. I wish I could grow them, but I have a deadly touch with plants. Luckily my husband has a green thumb.
I am so glad that you found the Lord, Wendy. I fell in love with Him at a young age, but at times my faith has gone through thin periods. Still, the Lord persists on calling me and I am praying that my children will have a close relationship with God. Thank you for your poetry.
Mollie
Mollie, I’ve always liked the calla lily too. I even named a dog, Calla, after the flower. My husband and I went on garden tours when we still lived in Victoria and saw calla lilies in the most picturesque landscapes–it’s pure elegance.
Amen to the Lord’s persistence with each of us.
Mollie, I know I’ve told you this before, but your hymn writing is wonderful. <3 Keep writing, dear friend.
Thank you, Wendy. I know I have a long way to go, but I feel I just have to write things down. Thank you for your encouragement. 🙂
I know that feeling, Mollie. Let’s keep writing.
I’m sure Jesus was smiling as you wrote this post. I fell in love with the Lord at the age of 18. It was my first year at Uni and I think my love of singing drew me to Him. I joined the choir and fell mightily in love with Jesus, and I’d been ever since.
I’ve never seen a Lenten flower before, it looks kind of rugged and beautiful at the same time.
I’m praying for your friend, may the Light of our saviour shine on his soul. Thanks for sharing!😀
Have a great weekend Wendy.😀👍
Seyi, how wonderful that you can sing. I love listening to good singing–but it sure ain’t mine. 🙂 Music really moves the heart, which makes it important to choose wisely what we listen to.
Writers, painters, and musicians all have a wonderful opportunity to glorify our Creator. Blessings as you continue using your gifts this way. <3
This is just so breathtaking beautiful!
Thank you, dear Inese. I can imagine you painting these so eloquently. Blessings, friend.
Thank you, Wendy.
<3
Wendy, thank you for sharing your beautiful story and for sharing your photos. 🙂
Thank you, dear Tracy. 🙂
Beautiful…and so uplifting! I met the Lord through some gals from Campus Crusade for Christ. They were just as you described, a sober and peaceful demeanor. And they had so much joy and love!
Thank you, dear Susan. Yes, “joy and love” are “fruits of the Spirit” that attract like nothing else can. <3
As always all you share is so beautifully and gracefully spiritual as it always comes to us from deep in your heart!
Thank you, Wendell. Poetry does allow us the advantage of sharing poignantly without penalty. Easter blessings, dear poet friend.