Nature recently tugged at my heart and reminded me of some important truths.
My husband and I headed out the door to visit one of our favorite parks. The moment we stepped onto the manicured grounds, I started photographing all things lovely and verdant. And I even paused long enough from my infatuation with flowers to snap a photo of my handsome hubby. And since I don’t have many pictures of the lady behind my camera lens, I asked him to take a picture of me too.
We walked up the garden steps that passed by a rose arbor and then we followed the path that hugged a meandering creek. And just before we reached the end of the path, I spotted a doe resting in the shade of a Japanese maple. She sat so still that if I hadn’t been on the hunt for birds and other unexpected delights, I would have missed her.
My husband stood next to me and said, “There she goes again.”
Yes, there I went again doing what I always do when I see a deer; I snapped pictures, because I know a deer—like time—doesn’t stand still when you most want it to.
A tug at my heart made me suspect the doe was the same mother of a young fawn I saw the previous time we were at this park. That meant her baby was probably sleeping nearby. In fact, I guessed it was asleep under the bushy evergreen shrub that grew just behind the doe’s resting spot.
When I saw her fawn the last time, it was while I was sorting out feelings of frustration about my own offspring. God spoke patience to me and filled me with more of His grace as I relinquished my concerns and fears to Him.
As I thought of her offspring again, I again thought of mine. I considered how fast my children grew into adults. And that thought led me to think about how fast my grandson is growing. And then I thought of the picture my husband took of me.
Time swiftly passes by. Pictures don’t lie. I can’t stop the lines, the sags, nor the wrinkles any more than I can save my own soul. Only God can create or renew youth. But I’m happy to be alive and happy to be on my way to Heaven. Bring on the battle scars because I’m being transformed and renewed on the inside. And that’s the part that counts for eternity.
You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James 4:14 NIV
The doe stood and slowly vanished into the upper part of the park. We kept walking towards the ocean and the flower borders that faced it. Yes, our bodies are like the lilies. Beautiful for a little while and then we vanish from the earth. But blessed are they who know and love the Lord, for they will receive resurrected bodies at the end of the age.
No, I’ll keep my aging body as-is—thank you. It reminds me whose I am and who is coming for to carry me Home. Each line, sag, and wrinkle bring me closer to the finish line. But in the meantime, I’ll keep giving my husband cause to say, “There she goes again.”
And now I’d like to close with a poem:
A doe rests in the woods
While her offspring sleep nearby
All is well within her world
Though time swiftly passes by
~
A hand touches my shoulder
And I smile into my husband’s eyes
For all is well in this moment
Though our years pass swiftly by.
~ wlm
I’m nosy-to-know what God has been teaching you through nature?
Nature Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
P.S. My latest newsletter was emailed to followers this week. Have you read it and entered the July giveaway yet? If you subscribe to my newsletter here: Newsletter and then email me the word: ENTER to purselanestudio@gmail.com before July 7, I’ll enter your name too for a six-pack of my hand-painted stickers. I’ll email the three winners on July 7, 2020.
