A Flower
Called Hope
It
was early June and the mountain air in Yosemite Park was still cool and crisp. We
were huddled inside our coats as we traveled in the open air tourist tram. It
was a fascinating excursion that included a fine lecture by the park ranger at
the helm.
Piled
below the giant Sequoias were heaps of snow. “I’m so disappointed,” I said to
my husband, “I have little hope now of getting any good photos of wild flowers
here, it’s too early in the season and too cold for them yet.”
But
little did I know then, God had a surprise coming up just around the bend.
“And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love
into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
Romans 5:5 NIV
As
the tour on the tram drove us through huge Sequoias the park ranger said,
“There’s an odd looking red coned shaped flower which we look for with great
earnest this time of year. The old legend goes that in these mountains when you
first see it, it will give one great hope —for it means winter is finally past!
I haven’t seen one yet, so keep your eyes out there for one.”
Not
far along we were stopping to observe one of the oldest Sequoias in the land
but before my eyes sought this tree I spotted something on the bank across the
road. Oh my goodness I gave out a shout, “There it is, the flower you spoke of!”
“That’s
it!” the ranger cried out excitedly.
“It’s called the snow flower! But I’d rename it if I could,” she said.
“I’d call it, the flower of hope.”
There
is no snow too deep, no mountain too high, and no heart too sad or broken for
God’s flower of hope to rise within us.
Let your vain repining go!
Hopeful hearts will find forever
Roses underneath the snow.” —Cooper
“A
Flower Called Hope” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© February 2,
2015 reprint from: Grace Every Morning, April 10, 2013
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