The Desert blooms

"When did all these trees bloom!" asked Asherel as we headed off on our daily dog walk.
I smiled and looked around.
"Look, our daffodils and forsythia are blooming too!"

I think our ski trip planned for next week is in jeopardy.

All of a sudden, all of spring had sprung in its glorious profusion. Blooms and blossoms dangled from shoots and limbs. When did all these trees bloom?

We were at the group birthday party for our old neighbor in the Alzheimer unit yesterday, Asherel had come with me. The entire unit was invited to come share cake and sing to Evelyn. One lady kept repeating to the man next to her, "This birthday is not our birthday."
But my favorite moment was when an elderly gentleman with a walker came strolling closer and closer to Asherel and me. He was peering intently at Asherel, and then stopped a foot in front of her.
He stared at her and then turned to sit down, saying, "What a cutie!"

"You better watch out," I whispered, "You're getting hit on by the residents here."

I glanced at her, poised and smiling. Helping serve cake to the residents in varying degrees of mental deterioration. Being kind in a rather sad and difficult place.

When did my daughter burst into bloom?

I love the words of Isaiah, as he comforts his people with the promises of a day when struggles will cease, and the weary hearts will be renewed. He reminds them with the imagery of a barren desert suddenly bursting into bloom. Sometimes the dry spell is interminable, and the thirst overwhelming. The fatigue as one crawls across biting hot sand finally topples even the strongest. But God promises that suddenly, out of nowhere, the dry cactus will blossom, the parched land will be watered, and the broken hearts mended.

Until that day, He gives us Spring to remind us. And a beautiful daughter steadily growing in grace.

Isaiah 35

Joy of the Redeemed

 ¹ The desert and the parched land will be glad;
   the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;
   it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
   the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
   the splendor of our God.  ³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
   steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
   “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
   he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
   he will come to save you.”