Life in France is not without its frustrations, that is for sure, and often, the combination of loneliness, cultural stress, and pregnancy hormones along with life's normal challenges and duties seem too overwhelming to bear. But then there are little "eclaircies" or glimpses of sunshine that bring encouragement, bits of relief, and reminders that I am not alone and that I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. An email, a call, a playdate with a potential Christian, English speaking friend (y'all must have been praying!), and a successful conversation in French with a neighbor are examples from this week.
Today, after a much needed afternoon nap, SA, D, and I ventured out for an afternoon walk. The funny thing is that we didn't make it out of our "jardin" (yard) because of several delightful discoveries. We have a beautiful jardin that brings weekly blooming surprises. Today I discovered some beautiful tiger lillies and several raspberry bushes that I had never noticed before! They were hiding behind some other bushes. We also harvested a couple of baskets full of delicious cherries from our cherry tree in the back yard. Last year I didn't realize that we had a cherry tree and inadvertantly fed the birds and bats with my cherries. This year I am planning to make lots of yummy cherry cobbler, sauces, and treats!
For several weeks I have been focusing on the rose bushes which have been beautiful! We have 11 red ones, 5 pink ones, one yellow, and one coral one. I have never been a gardener before and still don't claim to be, but I have been trying to just take care of what was here already in our garden and keep our planters filled with cheery pink geraniums and daisies. I added window boxes last year and have several pots of herbs and strawberries this year as well. I was so excited when the first strawberries appeared as they are my first real gardening success, my first fruit bearing plant, and they are deliciously sweet! I love this time of year, because all of the stone, medieval walls, houses, and buildings of our town seem to burst into bloom bringing a cheering relief from the gloominess of winter. And this year my garden is bringing forth wonderful fruit that I pray our lives will match in the spiritual realm as well.
As I sit here on my kitchen steps, it is starting to rain. I can hear the church bells ringing and the birds chirping, and it seems good to just be still. The birds are never in a hurry or stressed out with communication difficulties or cross-cultural conflict. I don't think they ever get bummed out when they feel fat and unattractive at 6 months pregnant or frustrated at the daily battle with weeds outside, dirt inside, laundry, and stinky toilets. Wish I could be more like them at times. I am, however, thankful that I am not them, because then I would miss out on the joys of motherhood, friendship, marriage, family, and being a part of God's work in the world. Life is full of joys, and today I am determined to just enjoy them!
4 comments:
and you are worth MORE than MANY birds (or sparrows).
what a lovely post! we are thinking that as we are both turning 30 this year and will FINALLY graduate seminary next summer, a nice long VACATION is in order! maybe we'll leave the kiddos with the carnster and come see you this time next year so we can see your garden and taste your homegrown fruits! and that may be the first we'll get to see of your new little darlin' if you don't get her home before then too.
My dear friend,
Your spiritually maturity is always so inspiring. God is so wonderful to give us is amazing creation to inspire us and point us to His majesty!
Much love!
What a wonderful piece of heaven you have right there in your yard. The beauties of creation never cease to amaze....
One of my earliest memories is of living in Virginia, sneaking into our back yard to eat strawberries off our plants (we were supposed to ask first) while my mom kissed Daddy good-bye as he left for work. Andy was sometimes my accomplice, thanks to my coercive big-sister powers, and I certainly felt those berries were worth the risk of punishment from B & J!
We now have a nice yard for which we can't claim much credit, either. We're trying not to kill what the previous owner planted. I've been keeping on top of the annual beds, but this year is our first significant planting: hydrangeas along our back fence. LOVE hydrangeas. They make me think of the South, and of my grandmother in Atlanta, whose hydrangeas are unbelievable. She says they were there when they bought the house in the early 1950s!
Happy learning as you garden! Life IS full of joys (reminds me of Eph. 1, talking about how Christ is our fullness who fills all)
Love, B
SA is so precious and how sweet that she will have memories of picking fresh fruit from the garden! I still remember the kumquat bush in Florida very fondly! I am glad you are finding joy and God's beautiful creation in your own backyard. We have had a robin's nest right outside the dining room window here and it is so cool to watch the babies stretch their little necks up when mama bird comes home. We also have baby ducks in the river that swim in a little row behind their mom...so cute. Thank the Lord for spring! Love you. Sarah
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