It takes time to grow a rose. Time for buds to firm, open. It takes time to take in its fragrance, to enjoy its sweetness. Such a pity to be in such a hurry that we have no time to simply look and notice the subtle shading of its petticoat, to touch and smell.
At the beginning of Lockdown in the U.K. I just simply didn’t realise how tired I was. It wasn’t until two weeks in that I came to a stop with trying to get some important things in order – even that stop came as the result of being blocked as necessary communications with various official offices closed down. Telephone queues became hours long, replies to emails were likewise delayed by several days…. so I came to a stop, found content in my little wilderness garden, and found joy in just being still in one place,
Silence will speak more to you in a day than the world of voices can teach you in a lifetime.
Find silence. Find solitude – and having discovered her riches,
Bind her to your heart
Frances J. Roberts… Come away. My beloved (Barbour Books)
And in the silence.. the sound of the rain, the gentle soft rain of the Holy Spirit that refreshes, restores and brings new growth.
Not, the hard, loud, rain of a deluge that causes panic as the flood waters rise to overwhelm a distressed soul.
Not the cold, persistent rain that chills to the bone.
But the soft, gentle, showers of blessing, that leave rainbow crystal drops on herbs, grass, thirsty flowers: rain to swell the buds, causing them to open.
As I rested, I was aware that the Lord was never going to chide me for sitting, and just sitting, because I was sitting with Him, and this was what He wanted, and what He purposed.
As we sat, so my understanding grew, and grows of many things shown and given, through the long years.
He showed me a box, a golden box, a bejewelled box, which I thought must contain some fortunate ladies precious treasures.
“I gave you the box, many years ago!
I gave you the key,
But you were careless with it;
You put it aside, out of sight:
Too busy, Martha to sit awhile,
This to do …..
That to do ….
You gave me back the key.
And the box?
The box you forgot. Placing it
Conveniently, at the back of memory’s closet.
My sweet girl,
I let you,
Allowed you to do this,
Because, I your loving
Friend and brother, watching jealousy
Wanted the pleasure of sitting with you,
To watch you open your gift and taking
Out every treasure reward me with your
Pleasure.
Me and Jesus sitting together
Yes.
The story is true but praise God for His Grace, the Lord and I sit together, and even when Lockdown is done and tiredness done. We will still be sitting together.
Fresh Whispers 