I saw hope today
I saw hope today. It was about an inch tall and surrounded by mulch, pale from winter and age. But sure enough it was there.
Wrapping his permanently bent fingers around the hand of a shovel, my grandfather shoved the blade into the ground and pried up the bulbs. Both my grandparents had green thumbs and they grew beautiful red cannas in their yard. The chance the flowers would survive in my care was not hopeful.
Buried hope
Surprisingly, they bloomed against my wooden fence every year and when I moved, I took some with me. At the house where I raised my kids, the cannas grew so thick they were spectacular. Then my whole world fell apart and I left the house I thought was home, but took a few bulbs with me. Planting them against a rock outside my new life and new front door, I looked forward to the red, curled blooms, but they never appeared because there wasn’t enough light. At the end of last year, I dug them up and planted them in a sunny spot with little hope they would survive the move, much less the historic frigid temperatures of this southern winter. but I saw hope today.
Living new life
Then I saw hope. Broad green leaves poking through the dirt reminded me of so many truths. My grandparents loved the Lord and the beauty of His creation. Nothing made my grandmother happier than flowers and she taught me all their names. Vivid in my memory is my grandfather leaning on a rake as he worked in the yard. They loved family and each other and we buried them nine days apart. Yes, I saw hope indeed that their values, memories and those flowers live on.
Living in my new life, I feel hope too. These flowers are going to make it and so am I.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 (ESV)
I don’t know what new things the Lord is doing in your life right now, but He is making a way through the hard places. Trust me I know how hard it is to say goodbye to the old and try to push through decay into the sunshine. Spring represents all new things and in Jesus Christ, we find hope.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
Living hope
Look around and embrace the new. Find the promises of hope in your new life. If you don’t know the Lord, He stands ready to invite you into a resurrected, new life of living hope.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
The artwork is an original painting by Joy Peebles. The background is gray asbestos siding from the house where my grandparents lived when my mom was growing up and I was little.
I have so missed you!! This post hit home with me as I have seen hope for my new situation as I adjust to retirement. I am seeing God’s hands working and reminding me daily that HE is in control.
Yes He is! Enjoy your retirement
This is such a wonderful post—both the message of hope and the beautiful cannas! The scripture from Isaiah is one of my favorites. You do, indeed, have a rich heritage. Thank you for the uplifting start to my day.
Great to hear from you. Thanks so much
Thank you Vickie. So much truth in those scriptures. I’m so thankful for you and your blog. It has given me so much hope during some difficult times. May the Lord continue to shine through you. 😊
Thanks so much. I needed that encouragement!
Great article. Thank you so much.
Thanks ❤️
Vickie, your messages bless me so much! This is such a tangible example of hope. Hope, faith, trust are so intertwined. Thank you for sharing this encouragement.
Love you.
Thank you for sharing your talent!
I having been going through one of the most difficult things I’ve ever walked through. There are so many hard days where it’s hard to find my way but your message encouraged my heart. Thank you. 💖
I’m so sorry it’s a rough time. Just remember God is faithful