Crocus

A few weeks ago,

I was drifting off to sleep.

As I did,

I had this sudden image of a lovely purple flower on a mountain top.

I don't know how,

but I knew it to be a Crocus.

It was a strong image,

and as I studied it,

its surroundings began to change.

The flower remained,

motionless,

untouched,

unfazed,

strong.

As the mountains it was rooted on,

turned into the heat of a vast desert!

The sand blew to and fro,

around this Crocus.

Then I saw snow fall,

bitter,

cold,

ice.

Then the winds came, 

they blew hard and fast around this flower.

Again,

the sun shone,

hot,

heavy 

and hard.

The flower 

remained.

I felt God whisper into my heart.

"You are like this Crocus,

When the storms come,

you will not be shaken,

when the heat is on,

your faith will remain.

When the drought comes,

when you can not feel my presence,

you will

remain."

I was so moved by this word to my heart,

I had to find out more about the nature of a Crocus.

I got up,

and looked it up.

'The Crocus is considered a hardy plant.

Hardiness of plants is a term used to describe their ability to survive adverse growing conditions. It is usually limited to discussions of climatic adversity. Thus a plant's ability to tolerate cold, heat, drought, flooding or wind are typically considered measurements of hardiness.'

I did not previously know this about these flowers.

I was taken aback by the accuracy of the word.

I was also encouraged to hear these words of comfort,

for when the tough times roll in,

and they do!

I take hope in the fact that,

if our foundation is firm,

if our feet are on the rock,

we shall remain.

 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
       out of the mud and mire;
       he set my feet on a rock
       and gave me a firm place to stand.

Psalm 40:2