There is a sea of sunshine just outside my front door. My pasture is covered in tiny yellow flowers. Not the pasture to my left, or the pasture to my right. Just mine. When I was pondering this thought out loud to Chris this week, he said “God knows who lives here.” My insides fluttered a bit. The thought of God knowing me like that and gifting me with something so uniquely and extravagantly made me feel a bit giddy.
And surprised. Does God really love me that way? Out loud and in front of everyone?
I have been called Mary Sunshine since I was a little girl. My mom and dad both called me this not really knowing the other did. When I met Chris he soon followed suit. I began to realize that anyone who really knew me, knew my secret nick name. But God? Does he call me sunshine too? Yes, I think he does. To be known and loved at this level is the cry of all of our hearts, isn’t it?
And there is something else. This flower is called bitterweed. Not only does this seem ridiculous to me, but it astounds me because my first name Mary means bitter, with Anne meaning grace. I am reminded of the the beauty that has come from the deep pain in my life –the grace that has washed over me but at a great cost. Does it look like this?
If I am careful to release my pain to the only who can heal me will bitterness blossom into beauty? Yes, may it be so.
Bitterness can blossom into beauty. And my Father calls me Sunshine.
Isaiah 61:1-3
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort those who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes
the oil of joy
instead of mourning
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.”
16 Comments
We are so much the same. I’m so thankful to have inherited your sunshine. Love you always.
You did indeed, my Annie. You are sunshine to the 4th or 5th power over me. I love you so and miss your light.
You will never know how much these words have ministered to me today. Thank you.
Debbie, thank you. So grateful.
Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing your brilliant sunshine with us. Blessings~
Lovely, in every way. Thank you.
Thank you…for the reminder that my Father knows me intimately and sees to every detail in my life.
What a great and sweet reminder today. Thank you so much.
Thank you for a wonderful reminder of His goodness to us.
Praising our Father for the bueaty in the picture, in your words and in the wisdom that He makes all things beautiful.
And this. Words needed, and a bit of sunshine for the day. thank you, oh thank you. This was a beautiful post.
Thank you Karly. Your blog is beautiful.
what beautiful thoughts. thank you for sharing.
Such an awesome God and wonderful story.
I only just found you here! But this was a lovely reminder and twist of something I have been reflecting on a lot recently. Reading Isaiah 61 and finding that beauty in the tangles, that sunshine in the storm, that sprouting of life from the dark depths of dirt. Thanks! Rachel http://themongers.blogspot.com/2014/08/nane-nane-and-garden-in-iraq.html
[…] is like sunshine. It is a nickname we share. Therefore when she is gone, the brilliance of life fades a bit. I miss her. I told a friend the […]