My Surprise

Hello friends!

I recently returned from a trip to help my sister recover from surgery.  While I was gone, the weeds in my rock yard grew crazy big.  Over several mornings and before it was terribly hot, I pulled up those weeds.  It looked so much better!  I’ve enjoyed this xeriscape yard now for about four years.  I am always tickled when someone sees the beauty in my yard and takes the time to tell me about it.

I am blessed to have multiple flowering trees and bushes in my front yard, like the Desert Willow, a small Red Bud, the Esperanza bush, a variety of roses, a Pride of Barbados shrub, and the Crepe Myrtles.  The last tree in my front yard is a Magnolia tree. It was the biggest surprise upon my return from helping my sister.  I’ll explain in a minute.

My sister lives in a lush green neighborhood with lots of Magnolia trees. They flourish because of the frequent rain in that area.  While I was running errands for my sister or taking her to appointments, I noticed lots of blooms on so many Magnolia trees.  I lamented because my Magnolia tree back home was hail damaged a few years ago and we’ve had terrible drought conditions in the years that followed.  That tree had been in sorry condition for four years.

History:  My Country Hubby uprooted that tree from a lush forest in east Texas and replanted it here in a much dryer climate.  My dad said it would never live, yet it’s now in its 37th year here.  It is a special tree to me for so many reasons.

Back to my return home.  I started out working in the yard that first morning and on one of my breaks, I looked up and rejoiced because my Magnolia tree had new leaves, blossoms, and blooms.  My previous lament was unnecessary.  I was inspired by the handiwork of God, especially in the mending and restoration of my Magnolia tree.  His work is everywhere, and all I have to do is look up.

Seeing the unexpected fresh growth on my Magnolia tree reminded me to seek and find the nourishment in His creation … and in me.  No hail storm or drought is too much for my Creator.

I wonder what God thought as He watched me look up.  Did He love my smile as my eyes noticed His work?

I didn’t look up in the middle of pulling weeds.  During a break, I caught my breath, felt my muscles relax, and my shoulders drop.  I leaned back and drank some water.  Only when my hands ceased their busyness, was there a stillness … a moment to notice … a time to glance up … a shift to worship and wonder.  Wow!  The lessons in stillness and from a healthy tree!  A wonderful surprise.

God tells us in scripture:

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalms 46 verse 10

MT Penny