Spring
has arrived or at least that is what the calendar currently tells us! The rain during the month of March
broke long-standing records in our area, but they also have helped to water the
spring flowers that we have been longing to see as we look for visible signs
that the long winter is over.
One
of the visible signs that I look for each spring to tell me that winter is gone
is the budding of the poppies. I
don’t know what it is that attracts me to these beautiful flowers for they do
not differ in colors, at all.
There is only one color that dots the countryside and that is the color
“red.” For me, just seeing one of
these beauties standing alone beside the road nestled in the bright green grass
with a clear blue sky above it is enough to tell me that “Yes … indeed winter
is over!”
This
fascination with poppies actually began when we first arrived here in
France. I was so enthralled by
this tiny and delicate wonder that I really wanted to have one in my own tiny
garden. Being one who would rather find something for “free” rather than pay
for anything, I proceeded to look for just the right specimen to call my own
and bring it home! So one day I
went equipped with a tiny shovel and a bag on my bike to gather up my new find. I dug carefully around the entire plant
and gently placed it in the bag for safekeeping. During the entire “gathering & transplanting process” I
was greeted by many stares from people who were passing by me, but I did my
best to try and ignore them and focus on replanting my new spring flower. It was days later, however, after
talking with some of my French friends that I realized that these tiny little
wonders of creation that encourage my spirit so much after a long winter were actually
viewed by the French people much like I would view a dandelion that would
appear in my yard back home…! It
was at this point that I began to understand why I received so many stares
while planting my poppy. I, who
was being so careful and gentle with this delicate flower so as not to disturb
it’s root system, was actually just transplanting the local weed!
I
can confidently say that I have learned my lesson in regards to the poppy. Sometimes the Lord only desires for me
to gaze on the beauty of His creation, instead of trying to replicate it somewhere
else. It was never meant to be
duplicated, but was given to us as another opportunity to thank the Lord for
His beauty in creation & His faithfulness to us as we pass from one season
to another. Winter will disappear …
spring will arrive and all the beauty that comes with it. The poppy no longer draws my heart to
want to capture it, but to glorify the Maker of it!
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| photo taken by Tiara Coules |
But the other week John and I were startled by an unexpected animal out for a walk, as well! As we were playing "retrieve the large flying rock," John spotted a black pig come out of the adjacent field and begin to follow us. As the pig got closer, John began to realize that this was not the local farm animal that had just escaped, but instead a wild boar that in fact can be quite dangerous, even to humans. He quickly leaded me back up and we started to walk faster not knowing what this fellow would do. The funny part was that for some reason this young wild boar really wanted to walk with us that day and quickly picked up speed to catch up with us. It must have been a funny sight to watch as we too picked up speed trying to advert any possible danger. We came home that day winded from the brisk walk, but filled with excitement to retell our walking tale!
