Sunday, March 31, 2024

An Abundant Life - YES and I Am!

On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, it was pouring rain with flood warnings. On days like that if I don't have to go out I don't, and so I waited until the early evening and instead of taking a walk to somewhere specific, I let God lead me to the place where He wanted me to go. I didn't know where exactly I was going, but I had a thought that maybe I'd go to the Walgreens that is in my neighborhood. I did need a few things and I don't always have time to go there, so that seemed to make sense and it felt like that was the direction where I needed to go. On the way I passed by a local florist that had some plants out front. Whenever I walk by I always look to see what they have, but usually I don't see anything that I particularly need so I just keep walking. But on this day when I walked by I saw that they had some small maidenhair ferns at a good price, and I decided to buy one.

I love maidenhair ferns, and they were a favorite of my Mother's. Whenever I see them, or really many different types of ferns or plants that she loved, I think of her. I've had maidenhair ferns before but they're not easy to grow and keep, and so when I saw this one I thought I'd try again. When I went inside I asked if I could charge it and they said that I needed to have the total be ten or else there would be an additional dollar added. They had so many lovely things for the holiday season and as I looked around I decided on an Easter Lily. It was not yet blooming and was still in bud and I thought how nice it would be to bring it to YES Gallery and watch it grow. The scent of them is always so beautiful, and as cut flowers they are wonderful and long lasting. One that was live would be such a wonderful thing to have and try to keep year after year.

Although the rain had mostly stopped, it was a bit windy on my way home and I found myself trying to protect the plant by holding it up against myself to shield it from the wind. I was able to make it home but I wasn't sure how I'd get it to the gallery and keep it safe while I walked. The next day I was able to find a few large bags to carry it in, layering them to give it some support, and I set out in the sunshine this time to walk on my way. The wind was gusting at times and so I again used my body to shield the lily and its long stalk and buds, and I was able to make it to the gallery safely.

There are so many plants in the gallery now, and some that are past their season and have pots that can be reused, and so I found one that seemed just right and repotted the lily, then placed it in the window in a very central view. It's so delightful to see it, and other plants are beginning to grow more again and bloom with the warmer weather. The windows of YES Gallery are ready for Easter and ready for spring. There is a blog post that I wrote in 2013 that talks about Honeysuckle and the sudden smell of it when it begins to bloom. In that post I talk about all kinds of sweet things and experiences, including when God lets Moses see His glory and covers Moses with his hand to protect him so that he will not perish when he sees the Lord. It's Easter Sunday and it's one of those days that is such a powerful and beautiful one because of the God who said YES to loving us all, and on this day as I celebrate at YES Gallery, I'll be thinking of the glory and beauty of the One who says YES and I Am and gave His life to give us life and help us bloom and grow.


Blooming And Growing
At YES Gallery
408 6th Street
Hoboken, New Jersey







Blessings,

Jannie Susan
    

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