DAFFODIL PEP-TALK

 I didn't do it, but someone planted some little bulbs in the ground around our house years ago.  Each year they come up at an appointed time and for that specific season they sprout and grow and bloom and make a lovely yellow border around our front porch.

For a day or two now James Spann and the other talking heads of meteorology have been telling us it was coming.  "Strong storms with potential for heavy rain" and last night it came.  The rumble from heaven sounded like someone was mad and they planned on doing something about it.  The lightening lacerated the dark sky and it bled billions of buckets of rain. The winds blew as if to clear the earth of all that was standing.
But it only lasted for a few short minutes and it was over.  I laid my head on the pillow and slept like a baby.

This morning I awoke and readied myself for another day of work.  As I walked out the door and stood on the porch I looked at the little daffodils and was so surprised. Oh, they were still there in their little border bed by the porch but their once straight stems were bent until their little yellow heads almost touched the ground.  :Instead of looking up toward heaven and smiling their beautiful smile they were pressed down by the storm and rain.  They were not injured.  They would not die.  I had heard the weather report and knew that tomorrow the sun would be out and it would be warm and bright.  Once again they would stand tall and straight and lift their heads toward heaven and delight us with their beauty and splendor. But they still stood there in their place and look downcast, dejected and defeated.

I was tempted to walk over to them and tell them, "Hey, little guys, look up, it's going to be OK. There is promise of sun and warmth and good days.  After all on a dark overcast day like today we need your bright shiny yellow faces to brighten the world".  But I didn't.

I've seen that before.  I've stood on the platform of our church and looked out over the congregation.  I've walked down the street and looked into the faces of the people hurrying back and forth on their daily task.  I've seen the same downcast, dejected, defeated looks.  Sure they have been through storms.  The weather report in the Bible said we would all go through storms,"In this world you will have tribulations".  But the sun will come back and the Son will come back.

I bet you've had some hard times lately.  I bet the winds of life have tried to blow you off the face of the  earth.  I bet you have trembled at the threatening flashes of doom that tried to intimidate you.  I imagine that some of you are bent by sickness or trouble.  I imagine that your normally bright smiling face could be turned down today.  I didn't say it to the flowers but can I say it to you?  "Look up.  There is a promise for tomorrow from someone much more powerful than "James Spann the weather man".  You were put in your little flower bed for a season.  And your purpose was to glorify God.  So lift up your head little flower and smile.  You need it, and on a gray overcast day like today, the world needs to see you smile.

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