Hello, this is Sharon. Twenty-five years ago, the end of January 1999, I began a weekly journal called the Bastille Farm Journal. This was to document our life on the farm, the comings and goings of our children, and what God was teaching me in my desire for spiritual growth.
During my “hibernation time” a few weeks ago, I pulled out those five years of journaling to read them and remember what life had been like. I am only in the third year right now, but found myself oftentimes blessed by how God worked in the lives of this family; Dick, myself, Eric, Karen, Kate, and Ethan. I thought I’d share some with you. The following is the spiritual insight from our daughter Kate, and me writing about it, from April 16, 2000.
complaining and upset with her living conditions
“On our way to church, I saw a cluster of daffodils growing on a hillside. A little farther down the road was another cluster in an unlikely spot. It reminded me of something Kate had told a young girl several years ago, who was complaining and upset with her “living” conditions. Kate told her about an old home she driven by recently. It was abandoned and falling down, the lawns overgrown with weeds, branches had fallen to the ground, and the overall condition was one of being unkempt and unlived in.
But, in front of the porch was a group of beautiful daffodils. They had chosen to ignore their surroundings and bloom right where they were. Their beauty also brought a surprise beauty and hope to their surroundings and anyone passing by. This reminded me of Philippians 2 verses 13-16 which says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world: holding forth the word of life…..”
ignore their surroundings and bloom right where they are
We too can and should shine where we are, becoming beautiful in our surroundings, thus bringing life and beauty to the world around us. Lord, like those daffodils, please help me to shine right where I am. May your week also be one of beauty and hope, despite your surroundings. Love in Christ, Sharon”
Spring will come soon enough, and so will the daffodils, along with God’s glorious beauty in us as we give our lives, the broken pieces and strife to Him. God can and will make “Something Beautiful” of our life.