The Deer and the Hydrangea
When you send your Spirit, they are created and you renew the face of the ground. Psalm 104:30 (NIV)
Our summer started with some beautiful new plants. We were thrilled! But the time came to let our chicks become free-range chickens. They didn’t eat our plants but just laid on them and smushed them all. They tipped over the garden decorations while the bears stole the bird feeders. The deer finished off the rest of the beautiful flowers. It was a frustrating summer until I began to notice the new growth. What joy! Sonia Frontera (All God’s Creatures) has a similar story to tell.
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She stared at me boldly as she chewed on my prized hydrangea’s leaves. Three feet from my home stood the lonesome doe that roamed the backside hill.
For years, our garden had been ravaged by the herd of deer that invaded the yard. My husband painstakingly fenced the property hoping for glorious blooms. We scratched our heads wondering how the intruder outsmarted us again.
The doe remained indifferent as I chased her away, finally taking off after I performed an animated pantomime. I rushed to assess the damage. I was infuriated to find a leafless shrub sporting a handful of flowers that survived the attack.
Weeks later, I looked out the window. The branches the deer had had feasted on were bursting with life. Tender green leaves sprouted on the previously bare stems.
In spite of the “enemy” wreaking havoc in my garden, God’s life and love continued to flow through His creation, restoring beauty and wholeness where devastation seemed to rule.
Isn’t that just like our lives? Challenging or adverse events such as illness, loss of employment, or the death of a loved one can make us feel hopeless, depleted and defeated. But God is constantly renewing us, His life and love supporting us and making us stronger.
I’m sure another deer will find my hydrangeas. But I trust that God will continue to show me how He renews life in the midst of adversity—and hungry deer. No situation is hopeless to God.
FAITH STEP: When life seems hopeless, instead of giving in to despair, turn within and identify the ways God is using your problems to help you learn and grow. Trust that His action plan is always at work in spite of negative appearances, knowing that something valuable will emerge out of the situation.
Almighty God, thank You for restoration and new life! When things look ugly and worn down, You create something new. Remind us to be more grateful for all Your blessings. AMEN.