Some say love….

Bette Midler’s song “The Rose” came on the radio today. A song I well know. Back in the day, It was a popular choice as a wedding song when I was in our School Choir that often sang at weddings. It starts off somewhat sadly and poignant. Actually if I may be blunt, somewhat miserably with the line “some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed!” However, The song redeems itself it by the end, and I find the last few lines very compelling…

“Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows, lies the seed that with the sun’s love, in the spring becomes the rose.”

Inevitably, probably as a result of singing the song in Chapels, Churches and Cathedrals, I translate “the sun’s love” to “the Son’s love”. In my mind I would compare myself, my life, to that seed, and take confidence and encouragement that with God’s love I too would flourish and bloom. The sun warms and nourishes the seed even as it lies beneath the surface in obscurity and hardship, and it cultivates it to break forth and bloom. God loves me and desires me to flourish and bloom, just as He created me to be.

Every day I live enveloped by the Lord’s love. Nourished and encouraged to be the best version of me.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11