From the archives... 01/31/2009
I just got finished watering my flowers outside. I must admit that I am not a gardener nor do I have a green thumb - but - I do love to see flowers and green bushes in their splendour.... My step dad Frank, loved gardening! He even was a gardener for someone, at some point in his life. He always kept our flower beds immaculate and beautiful. After his health started to fail and his eyesight got worse, he could no longer work with his beloved flowers. So, then I would try my hand at gardening - shudder! Sure didn't look like his work.
Last fall his sons gave him a butterfly bush. He was so excited about it and took extra time to tell me how to care for the little thing. It was a tiny little green thing when he got it. He had me cut the top off of a plastic vinegar bottle and cover it over to protect it for the winter, which I did.
In mid April, Frank became very ill. After a few weeks of severe pain, the doctors told us that he didn't have long.
At the end of April, I went out and took the plastic off the little butterfly bush. It was a lovely healthy green and had grown an inch or two. A few weeks later, Frank asked me to go out again and check on the bush. I went and to my horror, all I saw was a few twigs where the bush had been. I showed my niece and she said that probably an animal had chewed it up ~ I cried. I couldn’t bear to tell Frankie that the bush was gone.
As the time ticked away, Frank got weaker and weaker. Many times I thought of that butterfly bush. I had told his sons about it with tears in my eyes and they tried to console me by saying that maybe it will come up next year.
We were at Frank’s bedside when he went to be with the Lord on May 18th. Frank had been a special part of my life for 27 years. He wasn’t just a step father. He was a close friend! I miss him so much! I’m so thankful for God’s strong arms of comfort!
The week after he passed away, I decided to go and look at the place where the butterfly bush was. To my amazement, the butterfly bush was not only there, but about three inches higher than when I first took the plastic off. I got my sister to verify that it was indeed the bush and not a weed. She confirmed that is was! Praise God for resurrection!
I just looked at it tonight and it’s as tall as me! I even saw a little white butterfly flitting around! God is so good!
I have no idea who will read this. Maybe you just came across my website by some fluke. Maybe you may have heard me sing or speak somewhere. May I just say to you - whatever you may be going through, Jesus is there to help you. Maybe you have lost a loved one like I did. Or maybe there is sickness in your family or you are just plain hurting for some reason. THERE IS HOPE!
"God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." ...Psalm 34:18
Be encouraged!
Carol
I just got finished watering my flowers outside. I must admit that I am not a gardener nor do I have a green thumb - but - I do love to see flowers and green bushes in their splendour.... My step dad Frank, loved gardening! He even was a gardener for someone, at some point in his life. He always kept our flower beds immaculate and beautiful. After his health started to fail and his eyesight got worse, he could no longer work with his beloved flowers. So, then I would try my hand at gardening - shudder! Sure didn't look like his work.
Last fall his sons gave him a butterfly bush. He was so excited about it and took extra time to tell me how to care for the little thing. It was a tiny little green thing when he got it. He had me cut the top off of a plastic vinegar bottle and cover it over to protect it for the winter, which I did.
In mid April, Frank became very ill. After a few weeks of severe pain, the doctors told us that he didn't have long.
At the end of April, I went out and took the plastic off the little butterfly bush. It was a lovely healthy green and had grown an inch or two. A few weeks later, Frank asked me to go out again and check on the bush. I went and to my horror, all I saw was a few twigs where the bush had been. I showed my niece and she said that probably an animal had chewed it up ~ I cried. I couldn’t bear to tell Frankie that the bush was gone.
As the time ticked away, Frank got weaker and weaker. Many times I thought of that butterfly bush. I had told his sons about it with tears in my eyes and they tried to console me by saying that maybe it will come up next year.
We were at Frank’s bedside when he went to be with the Lord on May 18th. Frank had been a special part of my life for 27 years. He wasn’t just a step father. He was a close friend! I miss him so much! I’m so thankful for God’s strong arms of comfort!
The week after he passed away, I decided to go and look at the place where the butterfly bush was. To my amazement, the butterfly bush was not only there, but about three inches higher than when I first took the plastic off. I got my sister to verify that it was indeed the bush and not a weed. She confirmed that is was! Praise God for resurrection!
I just looked at it tonight and it’s as tall as me! I even saw a little white butterfly flitting around! God is so good!
I have no idea who will read this. Maybe you just came across my website by some fluke. Maybe you may have heard me sing or speak somewhere. May I just say to you - whatever you may be going through, Jesus is there to help you. Maybe you have lost a loved one like I did. Or maybe there is sickness in your family or you are just plain hurting for some reason. THERE IS HOPE!
"God is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." ...Psalm 34:18
Be encouraged!
Carol
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