Wildflower Whimsy

Happy Monday Wildflowers!

This week felt slow for me. One foot in front of the other and barely getting there. I felt discouraged and lacking in energy. A few tears shed most days. Honestly, it felt like a cloud had covered my sky and I couldn’t see forward.

As I was driving early one morning to meet a friend for a walk, fighting back waves of tired and tears – I had to slow down. Not because of my state of mind – but for my surroundings. A giant fog had covered the world around me and I could barely see a few feet in front of my car. I crept on, slower and steady – eyes alert. The breaking of the dawn brought a mix of sunlight and car lights, and with the fog all around me – it all felt very uncertain.

When I arrived to meet my friend for our walk, I shared my experience driving that morning. And we both related at how applicable that is to life – and to my week specifically. A fog had settled over my week – but that didn’t mean I wasn’t still moving forward. That God wasn’t still guiding my steps. What it did mean that I had to slow down, for safety. Check over my surroundings a few more times. The path was still there. I wasn’t lost. It just meant that I actually needed to slow. My friend also pointed out that a fog filled morning usually precedes a gloriously sunny and clear day. A reminder that foggy seasons don’t last. . . clarity, determination and direction will follow.

If you’re facing a fog in your life right now. Please take the time to slow down. Move forward a little at a time. Small, ‘doable portions’. But don’t try and speed through, it could end badly. Know that God has still got you, and He is with you – even if it doesn’t feel like He is. The fog will lift soon.

Psalm 23 has been of great comfort to me this week.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

David the Psalmist reminds me that I lack nothing. If I don’t have it right now, I don’t need it.

God leads me gently, giving lots of rest and soul filling moments.

Jesus guides me on the right path I need to go. I don’t need to stress about this. I just need to make sure He’s my Shepherd and that I’m not putting my affection and priority in controlling things myself or idealizing someone else’s ‘direction’ for my life.

I will walk through dark valleys. But I don’t have to fear. God is still with me.

His rod and His staff – used as a steadying walking stick, for defense against satan and discouragement, for correction when I wander away, and guidance for my life – they comfort me!

He prepares a life-giving table for me!

God fills my cup full – to over flowing. I have enough to pour out to others as well as being full myself.

And His goodness and love follow me – or I like to think they chase me! – all the days of my life. I am forever surrounded by goodness and love – even in the valley. Even in the fog.

Take comfort in these promises. They are beautiful.

And I can testify, that today I looked up. What joy. The sun was shining, the clouds were floating, an eagle was soaring and I felt alive again! I smiled to myself… Beautiful whimsy.

With wildflower whimsy,

Steph xo

P.S. Quote of the week:

“These things – the beauty, the memory of our own past – are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshipers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.” – C.S. Lewis The Weight of Glory

I’ve been reading the book ‘Just David’ by Eleanor H. Porter to my children this week. It’s been a gift. And a reminder that there is so much delight in the smallest of things. The birds trilling, the pretty weeds, beautiful mornings, bird song. . . Lets keep our eyes open to these daily Whimsy gifts. So much love xx