"Be Still and Know that I am God" Psalms 46:10

Lord, I do not understand but I know.

I do not understand how the sun gives warmth to the earth and causes gardens to grow and flowers to bloom, but I know it does. I do not understand how God's presence warms my heart and gives me abundant life but it does. I do not know where the birds learn their beautiful melodies, but I hear them sing. I do not understand how God's songs of hope and praise and love go into my heart, but they are there. I do not understand how nature helps the trees and flowers to survive the storms, but it does. I do not understand how God sustains me in the tempests of anxiety and fear that seem about to overwhelm me, but He does! I do not understand how God can sustain a whole world of people in a day like this, but I know He can. "God is our refuge and strength." In the midst of the cares and tribulations of our daily life, in the midst of war, sorrows, and disasters, He will not forsake us if we put our trust in Him.

by Margery Moore Ballengee

This article was taken from Ideals Vol. 26, No. 2 March 1969. I thought this spoke so fitting for today. Hope you enjoy the picture I added. Spring is near and my Dutch roots can't help but get excited about the tulips.

Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice

by Robert Frost

Some say the world will end in fire.
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

I've bought and laid out the food and the invitations have been sent.

Yes, I'm having a party and the guests keep arriving. I'm not surprised to see so many. Word gets around when there's delicious food. In such a short time, too.

Even with the icy cold winds and snow drifts hammering at the house the guests keep a-coming. And the noise is unbelievable. Everyone came in great spirits. I've never heard such joy and chatter on such a cold and blustery day.

We have a variety of guests too. I counted a dozen or more of each kind. Cardinals, blue jays, sparrows, chickadee, finches, and a big gray squirrel.

I am blessed to be able to host this party. The joy of giving is well worth it. But really, my guests have given me far more than I have given them.

I want to leave you with another poem about perspective on this cold winter day. Spring is coming and the ice will soon melt away.

A Linnet in a Gilded Cage

by Christina Rossetti

A linnet in a gilded cage,-
A linnet on a bough,_
In frosty winter one might doubt
Which bird is luckier now.

But let the trees burst out in leaf,
And nests be on the bough,-
Which linnet is the luckier bird,
Oh who could doubt it now?
 

Bee! I'm Expecting You!

It looks like spring and it feels like spring. Yet technically it's still winter. The weather is so warm we almost don't need a coat. The birds such as the robins are also back and busy collecting straw and building nests. I love it.
To greet the spring I found a poem by Emily Dickinson an American poet. She wrote a lot of poetry yet it wasn't until her death in 1866, that the scope of her work was realized when her sister Lavinia found her poems in her dresser drawer. Only 10 of her 1,700 poems were published during her lifetime. I guess good things come from the most unassuming people.

Bee! I'm Expecting You!

Bee! I'm expecting you!
Was saying yesterday
to somebody you know
that you were due-

The frogs got home last week-
are settled, and at work-
birds, mostly black-
the clover warm and thick-

You'll get my letter by
the seventeenth; Reply
Or better, be with me-
Yours, Fly.