Yes, you heard me right. Daffodils, not lilies. This is April in New Hampshire, and lilies are yet to come. Did anyone else notice their bright yellow heads dancing valiantly in the snowy wind just last week?
Jesus talked about lilies, not daffodils, in the gospel of Luke. But perhaps there is a commonality between the two for us who are enduring COVID-19.
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
So what about those daffodils? God takes more trouble to clothe them than Solomon did with his kingly wardrobe, which was surely lavish. Yet Jesus reminds us that the flowers of the field will eventually be mown down and burned. Not so with us, His precious “little flock”! We are destined to be clothed in His Glory. If He lavishes all that beauty on the daffodils, what does He have in store for us, His children? Everything; His kingdom in its entirety. Yes, it is true. We don’t have to worry about tomorrow. After all, Jesus reminds us, anxiety will not add one hour to our lives. It may even subtract a few of them.
So relax! Soak up the love at the heart of Creation. Let your heart dance with the daffodils. You are loved just as you are. When you have Jesus, you have everything. We too can toss our heads valiantly in the face of this storm.
