Weathering the Storms
The day before we
received the recent February snowfall, I opened the front door and glimpsed a
lone daffodil standing stalwartly in the east flower bed. I thought, Little daffodil, you have no idea what is
ahead of you!
A few days later,
as Mother and I exited the door to leave for church, to my surprise, the same
sturdy daffodil swayed ever so gently in the light breeze. I marveled since a
little less than a week ago, I had been positive the little flower would not survive
the wintry weather.
I ticked off in my
mind all that the flower had endured. The temperature dropped, freezing drizzle
began, followed by snow. Then, we experienced blustery winds most of
one day into the night. Some gusts measured 40 miles per hour!
When the sun shone
brightly, the gorgeous little daffodil’s brilliant yellow color virtually
glowed in its glory.
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| The Inspiring Daffodil - after the freezing rain, snow, and wind |
As I reflected and questioned how this fragile, buttery-colored posy endured, one fact came to mind. The solitary daffodil was located on the southern side of the house in the bed east of the porch. This tiny, resilient early bloomer had excellent protection from the brutal elements of the week’s weather.
Viewing the hardy daffodil reminded me of a
strong marriage. My parents’ wedding took place almost 71 years ago on March 4.
They worked at their relationship for 67 years until Dad's death. Mother and Dad worked
hard, managed diligently, and sacrificed to meet the financial challenge - well-known to many rural couples. Surely, it would have been much easier to
satisfy some personal whim they might have had. Instead, both of my parents
practiced faithful “team” parenting day after day.
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| Mother and Dad at their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1998 |
The beauty of the regal daffodil that withstood the brutal weather exemplified Mother and Dad's marriage enduring the storms of life. In 1948, Mother and Dad never
dreamed how challenging life would become for them. Health issues, compounded by
their aging, left them feeling like the little daffodil in the throes of disagreeable weather. The frigid wind blowing
around it, the driving rain and sleet stinging its petals, and the gusts of
wind yanking on the lone flower, trying to jerk it from the
frozen ground by the roots my parents’ relationship in their last
few years. Yet anyone who experiences a successful marriage will weather the storms
of life.
The last words I recall spoken by Dad illustrated vividly
his commitment to Mother. Following his second stroke, he seldom spoke. He
communicated with nods of his head and his eyes. Our procedure each evening was
reading the Bible, praying, and singing. Then we made sure he was comfortably
positioned in bed for sleeping. Then I usually said, “Good night, Dad. I love
you” while Mother sat in a chair next to his bed and holding his hand until he
drifted off to sleep. One night she surprised me when she said to him, “We love
you. Do you love us?”
I remember thinking, Mother, that’s a bit cruel since Dad seldom can speak. The
thought had barely passed through my head when my father’s piercing blue eyes
looked directly at Mother, articulating with a strong voice and genuine, fervent sincerity, “I sure
do!”
Both of my parents affirmed adamantly their trust
in the Lord enabled them to withstand the storms of married life. Their commitment
to Him gave strength to keep the vow “Till death do us part.”
Through every storm, they lived by this verse from
Isaiah 25:4 You have been a refuge for the poor, a
refuge for the needy in distress, a hiding place from the storm, a shade from
the heat. When the breath of tyrants is like a winter storm. (CEB)
Like Polycarp, who was martyred in the ancient city of Smyrna (in
what is now Turkey), at age 86, in the 2nd century, A.D., Mother and
Dad would attest to God’s faithfulness. Polycarp was quoted as saying, just prior
to his sentencing, "Fourscore and six years have I served Him, and He has never done me injury; how then can I now blaspheme my King and Savior?"
Lord, may
we look to You as storms come into our lives, as turbulence threatens our stability
and sometimes bends us so low, we fear destruction of all we hold dear. May we dwell
securely in You as our hiding place, as Your loving-kindness overshadows our
worst situations, and Your peace envelopes us in a way beyond our
understanding.
An afterthought - Dad enjoyed listening to bluegrass music, especially after his second stroke. As I wrote about Polycarp, I recalled this rendition of "He Ain't Done Me Nothing But Good" by the Isaacs, one of my favorite bluegrass groups. Mother cringed at the grammar but agreed with its message. Here is a link to it:
Thank you for sharing your wonderful gift of seeing ordinary life and making it memorable and beautiful. Ron and Stella
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