Light My Path Ministries

Winter can be both delightful and brutal. Watching the snow fall, blanketing the drabness of winter, is so beautiful. It muffles all the noises, quieting creation and bringing a peace that calms the soul. I love the snow and cold of winter because it refreshes me after several months of hot, dry weather. Texas has had a record winter this year with snow and ice wreaking havoc on travelers, trees, power lines, and pedestrians. This year Texas’ wintery weather broke temperature records, snow and ice accumulation records, as well as the record for the number of school days cancelled. There still remain tell-tale signs of ice a week past the storm.
The plants in the garden suffered miserably during the past week. We tried but we couldn’t provide them with enough protection from the freezing temperatures. It was impossible to move them to shelter where their limbs would not be exposed. Spring will only tell if the fig and limon tree, having lived through all those days of freezing temperatures, will be able to bear fruit this coming summer. Hopefully they will again sprout leaves but it might take severe pruning which will change their shape and appearance and stunt their fruit bearing ability.
So as I’m lamenting how those two trees will be forever changed by this year’s harsh winter I realize that every weed in the yard survived – they are all green! It’s as if they are laughing at me saying “We Survived!!!!”. What do those weeds give me; nothing but a blight on my landscape, hard work and sore knees. Those pesky plants survived, but the fig tree and the limon tree have been waylaid with frostbite. Both trees generously produce fruit, yielding enough for the bees, the birds, the opossum, the ants, our 2 fig loving dogs, and plenty to spare for canning and sharing with others. Their roots are much bigger, longer, and reach deeper into the earth than those shallow rooted weeds. So I ask, Why? Why did plants that are beautiful and productive suffer and those that create problems for me survived?
The Garden once again brings me back to thinking about God’s plan for man. I am reminded of the times when life has dealt me blows, changing me and at times making me spiritually barren for a while. There are times in life of suffering and disappointment and stunted growth. There are times when I wonder why these bad things happen to me while those around me seem to be unscathed by life. Scripture refreshes my memory and I recall that if the roots of our souls are deeply entwined with God he sustains us through those times. We might not come through trials looking, acting, or feeling the same and we might not be able to bear fruit for a while but we are afforded survival by the strength given us in our relationship with God through His Son. During the harsh winters of my life, my survival depends on fixating on God, his strength, his protection and his comfort. I can’t be sideswiped by asking why others are flourishing when I’m not. My energy must be directed to the struggle of standing firm in faith.
As spring approaches the limon and fig tree will be pruned and given extra care. They might not be able to bear their usual yield of fruit for a while, but their strong roots will bring them back,… changed plants, but alive. Praise God for giving us a changed life through his Son; molded and shaped by life’s circumstances and fitted for HIS service.