Armful of Roses
Armful of Roses
This is the sweet little handful of “pretty weeds” littlest Brother gathered for Mama yesterday afternoon. We both crawled through the grass to find the miniscule florets with their pink-edged petals. “Flowers for Mama,” he kept telling me. It reminded be of that lovely song the Browns daughters sing:
Four years old with dirt on my face
I’d been out in the yard picking dandelions all day
I burst through the front door when I’d gathered enough
To give to my mom to show her my love
When I held out my hand she looked down at me
Said ‘I’ve never seen flowers as beautiful as these.’
She’s the one who told me about Jesus
She’s the one who taught me to sing
She deserves an armful of roses
But she’s satisfied with a handful of weeds ....
This touching song brings to my mind a lesson which the Lord has taught me over the years (and continues to do so!). In the same way that a mother’s love accepts a bedraggled bunch of weeds as a beautiful bouquet, so does God accept our very humble attempts at goodness.
Is it even so, my Lord,
That Thou couldst love the likes of me
When my very best is but dross to Thee,
My highest for Thee the deepest crag,
My greatest works but bloodied rags?
It is even so, my child,
For thou’rt my fair one, my dove -
Rushing torrents can ne’er quench my love!
Each paltry off’ring from thy hand
Becomes a gem at Heaven’s strand.
Rejoice then, O happy heart!
What love, what love is thine, is thine! -
“I am the Lord’s and He is mine!”
My soul can rest, my heart is sure
For in His Love I’m made secure.
Text: Song lyrics from “Handful of Weeds.” Written by Sheri Easter. Poem “Is it Even So, My Lord.” © Handmaidens of the Shepherd, November 2007.
Photographs: Handful of Weeds. © Handmaidens of the Shepherd, January 2008.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008