Pulling Away the Rot

The beautiful island of lovely plants we had installed on my parents' front lawn looked barren.Where once beautiful bushy plants had waved fronds and flowers, now only dead long tendrils of brown and rotting masses lay. I put on my gardening gloves and set to work pulling the dead vegetation away and weeding the many baby dandelions. What a wonderful surprise lay beneath the masses of brown decay! As I cut away the dreary dead stalks, I found the new plant growing, its tiny leaves green and bursting with new life. All is not lost! The beautiful plants have not died! They were only dormant, waiting for gentle hands to pull away the layers of rot so they could bloom again in the light of a healing sun.

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Isaiah 35: 1-4
1 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
 the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
2 it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
 The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
 They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
"Be strong; fear not!
 Behold, your God
will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you."