WILLOW

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching. . .

I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.”

― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

For me, the Willow tree is a living metaphor of the dichotomy of beauty in the midst of suffering. Its branches, sweeping with sorrow are also a source of protection, shade, and an otherworldly beauty, for those who find themselves sheltered within.

How often I seek to run away from life's most tranformative events. When I surrender to a quiet teachability, I find a cool and calming haven. One that doesn't know the future – just the One who holds it. When I am finally willing to entrust my time by the willow to its Maker, I sense the bitter sweetness of the Gardener's touch and I catch a glimpse of its intended beauty.

"Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process,

with glory just around the corner."1 Peter 4:12-13

#Willow #nature #sorrow #devotion