Thought for the Day - Friday 26 March

Thoughts for Friday 26th March - from Netta Lithgow A reading from the Gospel of Matthew 6:28-29 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. I was interested to read that the lilies of the field mentioned in the Gospel reading from Matthew were probably the wild Crocuses that bloom in Galilee during the Spring. They bloomed naturally without any plant food or careful tending. If you watch the gardening programmes on television you will sometimes hear the gardener admit that he/she has no idea why a particular plant did not bloom this year as it usually did despite all the expertise they have at their fingertips. The expected did not happen. We don’t always get things our own way – which is just as well. Springtime is a favourite season for many people. Crocuses Snowdrops, Daffodils and Primrose appearing from the hard dismal looking soil, cheering us up, beautiful little snowdrops so frail but pushing up through the heavy snow we had in February. Winter is over giving us hope, longer daylight hours filling us with thankfulness that we have made it through the winter while keeping in our mind those who have not been so blessed. Gardening has been very therapeutic for lots of people during lockdown. It has helped with their worries, loneliness and depression. It is said that gardening develops patience - you must patiently wait and see what the outcome of all your hard work will reveal. We didn’t have Crocuses in our garden when I was a small child but we had lots of the old fashioned variety of Primroses – gorgeous little flowers. They never received any plant food or extra watering from us yet the Primroses bloomed beautifully each year despite our near neglect of them. My Mother occasionally put the left-over tea leaves from the tea pot and crushed egg shells onto the soil – she had faith it worked and whether it did or not the Primroses bloomed in great abundance each year. In the Garden of Gethsemane, there would certainly be Olive Trees but I don’t know if any little flowers bloomed there too – I like to think they did. However I do know that it was a garden that Jesus and His Disciples liked to visit and, knowing that, it gave Judas Iscariot the opportunity to find Jesus and betray Him on the night of his arrest. Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew, is not of course about gardening. It’s using an illustration to give us good advice - telling us not to worry or get upset about what may or may not happen tomorrow – yes, that can be difficult to do. It’s also telling us to have faith in God and ultimately leave all our worries with Him. May we have the strength to do that. Pray Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it Jesus, this my plea; daily walking close with Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be.