Today as I am watching the miracle of a snowflake descend upon the frozen crust of earth, I am reminded of the lure of spring’s blossoms; the wafting of the fragrance of the lovely lavender which blooms on the hill to the west of the house is tempting me to remember. It is a calming scent, the pungent fragrance draws me in when I bend to inhale the aroma which is offered to lure one in.
Traditionally, Lavender (Lavandula Officianalis) was known to relieve tension. It is a flower and an herb which grows initially in the Mediterranean regions. It has been used for centuries medicinally as well as decoratively. Lavender… even the name brings a bit of tranquil. I began to learn about the healing properties of this plant when my oldest child began her journey of chronic health problems. She couldn’t take over-the-counter medications because of the threat of possible seizures, so we had to be creative… or put her in a bubble which I did consider for some time.
Lavender oil was our answer to prayer. The healing properties of Lavender were endless and what’s more not only did it have a calming effect, it brought down fevers, was an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-spasmodic. (note: I did not use it as a sole course of treatment, but it helped to aid when routine meds could not be given to help my little one feel better.) To put it plainly, it was a God-send. Thus my love-affair with Lavender began.
The available space all around our house would be full of the purple wands waving in the breeze filtering the air surrounding me, if it was possible. It reminds me of an attribute of God. I find His joy present in the beauty of Creation.
” You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”
~Psalm 16:11
And I am reminded that God’s Word tells us in Philippians 4:19 ” My God shall supply all your needs according to your riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Creation is at the disposal of the Creator. We are both a product of his glorious design.It is in knowing this truth, that our design was no accident but were intricately formed and woven together in secret, that we find abundant joy for the journey .
Let’s look to his Word:
Psalm 139: 12-17(Amp) : “Even the darkness hides nothing from You but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You. For you did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth Wonderful are your works, and that my inner self knows right well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in the secret,intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth. How precious and weighty are your thoughts to me, O God!. How vast is the sum of them. ”
God being sovereign sees our end from our beginning. He knows the number of hairs upon our heads(Matthew 10:20) and because we can trust that HE IS GOOD( 1 Tim 4:4, Hebrews 11:6), we can trust that His plan is full of love, hope and a future. ( Jer. 29:11)
And His Word is filled with hope and promise.
In the lingering of our days, with the tensions that mount, we fall to questioning. When we allow the finite nature of our human intellect try to decipher God’s ways we lose peace and joy. When we are stressed, we think we are failing and we are fearful of hope, but there is a promise that is ours.
Philippians 4:6-7 ( Amp) tells us ” Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything; but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petitions ( definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants know to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
The direction of our journey has such significant effect on our lives. Contemplation and memory have descended up on my thoughts today as I rest in the path He has set before me. My flesh may not always want to choose the road less traveled in order to pave a way that is hindered by the branches, rocks and curves of a life abandoned to the extraordinary. It is this solemn choice that makes the difference. When I think back to the aroma of the journey, I hope there is a hint of lavender wafting behind drawing the eye upward to the heavenly joy of a life surrendered in faith.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. ~ Robert Frost
