Like a watered garden...

Isaiah: 9b-12   If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, ¹⁰ if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. ¹¹ The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. ¹² Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

I like to keep fresh flowers in my office.  This morning when I walked in my office, it was quite clear I forgot to water the pink tulips I bought at the store the other day.  After a good drink of water, they have perked up and seem to be happy now.  Their happy state has given me a lift, too, feeling like a watered garden today.  What has filled me, I wonder?

Certainly lots of laughter in our home going on our fourth snow day.  A beautiful fresh blanket of snow covers the angry ice underneath.  My daughter's 5-month old Maltese jumps playfully in the four inches of this new-found fun.  She has never experienced snow before.  There is a peaceful calm amidst the chaos of snow clothes, shoes, towels constantly going in and out of the dryer.

What's missing?  The stress and pressure of homework, schedules, and deadlines are lifted.  The calendar is blank because all things have been canceled.  Even at the church I have time to prepare for Sunday before Sunday.  Tonight's 9 pm basketball game for my 10-year-old has been canceled.  Indoor sports never get canceled.  This is awesome!!  Everyone is drinking in the stillness.  This is refreshment.

Thanks be to God for the waters of refreshment.  May we continue to find this feeling in the midst of our busy lives so we do not allow ourselves to get parched!!