I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Song of Songs 2:1
The fragrance of Lily of the Valley and the beauty of the Rose of Sharon tree have been favorites of mine since I was a child. My mother’s love for Lily of the Valley meant our yard was decorated with it every spring, and little hands brought bouquets into the house until the yard was cleared! One disappointment was that their stay was brief, but their sweet fragrance lingered within me. For Mothers’ Day many years later, my husband presented me with a Rose of Sharon tree, which he planted outside our bedroom window, and Lily of the Valley plants that he placed along the fence. The first year we had them, when spring came, the Lily of the Valley sprouted up its green shoots toward the sun, but the Rose of Sharon appeared lifeless and I worried that it had not made it through our cold New England winter. But my ever-optimistic husband said, “Let’s just give it some time.” After all the other trees and shrubs in our yard had been blooming for several weeks, finally there appeared on the dry lifeless branches little sprouts of green! And so it was I discovered that the Rose of Sharon is the last to bloom in our yard and one of the first to lose its leaves in the fall. However, its bright purple-pink, cheery flowers bloom over several weeks, bringing a special late-summer joy to my heart as their raised, frilly blossoms are easily viewed through our windows. My appreciation for them heightened even more so while I was recovering from a surgery at the end of one summer. Confined to bed and unable to see the many flowers in our gardens and yard, this beautiful lush green tree with its bright blossoms brought much enjoyment as they lifted my spirits. In addition, while I watched the bees busily at work throughout the flowers, I was reminded that there is a time for everything, and always work to do.
The strength in the branches of the Rose of Sharon belies its size, for the branches are twig-like and scraggly at first and remain more bush-like than tree-like as they age. And how they bend! Therein lies their strength. Their thin branches sway with the wind and rain and rarely have they ever broken, even under the weight of very heavy snowfall – amazing!
The pleasing, fresh, spring-time scent of Lily of the Valley may be long past, but in a moments thought, I can conjure up the sweet fragrance, remembering with a smile the newness of the season; and looking out at the barren branches of the Rose of Sharon, visions of their strength and beauty reinforce my faith in their survival over the winter ahead while reminding me of God's faithfulness to us. And in this beautiful season of Advent, it makes me think, that is how I want to be, bending, not broken; pleasant, not bitter; bending under the weight of challenges confronted, while leaving the sweet fragrance of faith that lingers, perhaps bringing a smile to someone else’s face. Isn’t that what God is asking of all of us?
Thank you, God, for revealing to us in nature - right in front of us- so many examples like the Rose of Sharon and the Lily, that teach us the qualities necessary to live a patient, joyful life, pleasing to You and one another.
Copyright© 2013 Kathleen A. Matson