Wink from Heaven: Unexpected Tulips

Friday, April 27, 2012

Unexpected Tulips

Last Spring I dug up all of my tulips. We were hoping to get some bushes planted, and we didn't want to plant on top of the bulbs.
We didn't end up getting our bushes in so this Spring our flower beds were bare- or so I thought. One rainy morning I looked closely at our dirt and could see numerous tulips pushing their way through! They must have spread to places that I didn't realize! We had over 20 tulips pop up unexpectedly this spring, and they delight my heart every time I step outside.

I love tulips; they are so brave. They push their way through hard wintered soil. They continue to grow through unexpected snow storms. They are the first blooms we see after a long cold season.

I know Heavenly Father is aware of the ache in our hearts. He knew we needed Spring more than ever this year. My heart is full of gratitude for a Father who delights to own and bless me in ways that only He could.

The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day he created Spring. ~Bern Williams

8 comments:

Unknown said...: YOU are brave.
You push your way through hard wintry trials.
you continue to grow through unexpected storms.
YOU are the bloom we see after your hard season of heartbreak.
When Heavenly Father created Hope, he had YOU in mind.
And THEN he created Spring.
XO; April 27, 2012 at 7:28 AM
Brad and Amy said...: Happy Spring!; April 27, 2012 at 1:29 PM
arianne said...: Great shots and touching words. You like tulips because they're so much like you.; April 27, 2012 at 1:30 PM
shirlgirl said...: I love Jenny's comments to your blog. Your pictures are beautiful. I am going to email you a picture that I copied from one of your posts awhile ago. I've made prints and have put them on card stock to make note cards. They are very special.; April 27, 2012 at 5:48 PM
Jenny said...: your unexpected tulips in spring = a tender mercy for me. this is just what i needed to read today april. thank you. i love you!; April 29, 2012 at 3:41 PM
Lisa said...: Im so happy you are seeing such beauty despite the struggles you are having; April 29, 2012 at 5:36 PM
Sarah said...: Beautiful, thoughtful, and strong. xo; May 2, 2012 at 10:13 PM
Becky said...: April, I love the way you write. So tender and sweet, just like you. I too love tulips. They are one of my favorite flowers. Mine just recently came up and it made my heart smile. I love you!!!; May 4, 2012 at 9:31 AM

Prayer for Caleb

(written by Caleb's Grandma in her weekly column -2008-)

In my family we have a secret code to communicate our love for each other when we are out in public. We wink. When one of us is about to perform or speak, we look for a family member’s face in the crowd. Then we wink at each other. Closing one eye and winking is our secret code for saying, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

About three years ago, my grandson Caleb was born into our family. He must have known before birth that he would never be able to speak to us because he was born with one eyelid permanently closed. So, he is always “winking” at us, always communicating, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

Caleb has one eye lid permanently closed because he is missing one of his eyes . . . and he is also missing his brain. All the doctors said he would die soon after birth. They were wrong. Caleb is three years old. He is a medical miracle. The doctors say he can’t see, hear, speak, think or move. Those who know and love Caleb understand he has his own unique way of experiencing the world and communicating his love to those around him.

After Caleb was born the hospice people told us to buy a burial plot and continually warned us of his imminent death. We soon learned you can not live well in a state of fear and sadness. We decided we could spend Caleb’s entire life anxious and scared he might die at any moment, or we could celebrate each day we were blessed to have him with us. In the beginning, my daughter April celebrated Caleb’s birthday every week instead of every year with balloons and cupcakes because we simply did not know how long we would have him with us. We stopped the cupcakes after we gained ten pounds, but the celebrating goes on.

We all prayed for a miracle when we first learned about Caleb’s condition. We got one. Caleb’s birth, life and mission have had a deep and lasting impact on our lives. His spirit, eternal identity and most of all the loving, individual relationship he has with each of us is truly a miracle. Because of Caleb we know that each of us has a divine purpose and that the physical body is a sacred gift we should never take for granted. We better understand the worth of a soul and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Caleb’s five year old brother Matthew said, “Grandma. The doctors said Caleb was going to die, but he didn’t. That’s the first miracle I ever saw!”

Sometimes Caleb’s baby brother Mitchell pulls out his feeding tube while they hold hands riding together in their double stroller. Sometimes the only intervention that can get Caleb’s heart rate up is when his older brothers Josh and Matty crawl in his crib, hug him and sing, “I am a Child of God.” ...If you have a moment please offer a prayer for the little boy who has never been able to utter a single word and yet has taught everyone who knows and loves him – all the secrets of a rich and meaningful life.