Bright Spots

We recently moved from Dayton, Virginia.  In Dayton, there are many Mennonite farms.  The Mennonites are wonderful farmers and everywhere you go there are picturesque barns, silos and manicured farmland.  Old order Mennonites do not believe in cars.  Their mode of transportation to church is horse and buggy.  On any given Sunday morning the road will be filled with horse and buggies, all headed to church.  On Monday, though, it’s a different story. The Mennonites all have gigantic tractors and they travel to the bank or supermarket using these tractors or they will use their bicycles.  We discovered a beautiful sight while living there. A farmer close to our home planted an acre of sunflowers every year and when they were in full bloom he’d put up a sign saying, “Take as many as you want!”  This Mennonite farmer brightened the lives of many who stopped to pick a handful of sunflowers.

Remembering this acre of sunflowers reminds me of what we need today.  We need to be lifted up and have a “bright spot” during the pandemic.  Psalm 86:1 says, “Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” Sometimes in a bleak place, God sends a sunflower. This sunflower might be a note from a friend, a comforting Bible verse, or maybe a beautiful sunrise or sunset.  David in the Psalm tells us that we serve a “compassionate and gracious God” (vs.15) who abounds in love for all who call on Him. (vs.5)

As we await the day we experience God’s deliverance out of our pandemic, may we join the Psalmist in proclaiming, “You are great and do marvelous deeds, you alone are God.” (vs.10) God plants “sunflowers” in unusual places.  I pray you will find “yours” today!

Prayer: God – Thank you for being compassionate and gracious. Thank you for all the “sunflowers” you send our way.

Psalm 86:5 – You, Lord. are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Author: Tommy Herndon