Pink Petals

There are shower people and there are bath people.
I am a shower person.
The hot water feels so good on my back after a night of sleep.
There is something so refreshing about a hot shower as I begin my day.

It often amazes me that for us shower people, getting caught in the rain is not so pleasant.
I thought about that as I dodged raindrops coming out of the grocery store.
Water from the shower is delightful and refreshing.
Water from a rain shower is annoying and inconvenient.

Isn’t that always the way it goes?
We like what we like, when we like it.
We often have situational preferences.
We may like something under these circumstances but not under those circumstances.

We are peculiar people.
More than the situation, I think it has to do with age.
Older people for the most part do not like to get wet once they are dressed for the day.
Children, on the other hand, find joy in the strangest things.

Give a child a puddle and he or she will play for hours.
A child will play barefoot, in rain boots, or in new sneakers that need some breaking in.
Oh, how they will play.
Situational preferences do not matter to a child; fun is fun.

I thought of this as I saw the pink street.
The trees are now in leaf.
The trees that flower first are now shedding their colorful petals.
The flowers have to fall to make room for the leaf.

I saw a picture of a child playing in pink petals.
Just like a child will play with leaves in the fall, this child was playing in a sea of pink.
Just like a child gathers leaves in their arms to toss in the air with abandon, this child was ready.
Leaves or pink petals, it made no difference.

I saw the picture right before the action.
I saw the picture during the action.
I saw the picture after the pink petals fell all over the child.
I saw sheer joy on the child’s face.

It doesn’t matter to a child.
Cowboy boots and tutus are totally acceptable to wear together.
Plaid shorts and striped shirts are colorful and fun.
Shoes on the wrong feet make walking a little more interesting.

Did you ever take notice of children’s shoes?
Sneakers with glitter and sneakers that light up on the bottom are both functional and fun.
Clothes have to give them freedom to move.
Clothes have to give them the ability to run, and jump, and climb with ease.

I can still see the little child in a sea of pink petals in my mind.
For a split second, I wanted to hop into that picture and join him.
I wanted to gather pink petals in my hands and toss them into the air with abandon.
The petals just begged to be tossed and the child did not miss the opportunity.

We adults often miss opportunities for the sake of propriety.
What if someone was looking?
What would people think if they saw me?
I am too old for this.

Children don’t seem to care.
Pink petals are to be tossed.
Puddles are to stomp in.
Leaves are to be gathered and thrown into the air.

The life of a child.
Carefree.
Whimsical.
Living life with abandon.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

Pink petals are supposed to fall in order to make room for the new leaf.
Raindrops fall so that the ground is watered and the rivers and streams are filled.
Pink petals will eventually blow away.
Rain will sometimes be a long time coming and drought occurs.

The only thing that endures, without change, is the Word of God.
The Word of God is timeless.
The Word of God is applicable to all people, from all times, and in all places.
The Word of God will never dry up or be blown away.

We would never think to modify the rain to fit our lifestyle.
Rain is rain.
We would never dream of dying the petals blue because it complimented our house color.
Petals are petals.

We accept those things in nature as is.
We see beauty in them.
We find pleasure in them.
They bring us joy.

So, too, the Word of God.
The Word of God is immutable.
The Word of God is inerrant.
The Word of God is inspired.

We accept the Word of God as is.
We see beauty in it.
We find pleasure in reading it and hiding it in our heart.
The Word of God brings us such joy.

There are classic novels that we would never dream of changing.
There are timeless pieces of furniture that we seek out at antique stores.
There are vintage pieces of jewelry that is passed down from mother to daughter.
That timelessness is what makes it so precious to us.

It is no different with the Word of God.
God’s Word is timeless.
Its immutability is what we cling to in our ever changing world.
The Word of God is inspired, or God breathed; we know that we can trust it.

I thought of all of this as I saw the pink street.
I saw the pink petals on the ground.
I gave them a swift kick with my foot and they scattered in the air.
Perhaps the next time I will gather them in my hands and toss them in the air with abandon.

Perhaps the next time.

 

2 responses to “Pink Petals”

1. I have been admiring those pink petals for over a week and it just delights me. The beauty and actually watching them fall as snow is spectacular, I just love God’s creation and your picture of children mingleing in his blanket of pink as well as rain puddles is precious.
   I can tell you are looking forward to those times with the grand baby.

   Reply

   • Carol,
     I am so delighted that someone else gets such joy out of something simple like pink petals. You know me well. I am looking forward to the birth of our grandbaby. I cherish being able to see the world through a child’s eyes once again.
     Gina

     Reply