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Every reason for every season

By Karen Farris, Op-ed contributor Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Courtesy of Karen Farris | Courtesy of Karen Farris

Many, many years ago, Mom planted shamrocks beneath the protective overhanging leaves of a maple tree. I looked forward to seeing them burst forth every spring—it was a sweet reminder that they were planted by her hand.

But when we had to cut the maple tree down, I feared that without the tree’s generous shade, Mom’s shamrocks would die.

Amazingly, in that first year after the maple tree was gone, several dozen bracken ferns emerged within the shamrocks. By the time summer was at its hottest, those ferns had spread across the entire area—shading the shamrocks from the punishing rays of the sun.

Those faithful ferns have returned every year since. And Mom’s shamrocks remain vibrant.

If God cares that much about nature, how much more does He care about covering our lives with His love—for every reason in every season.

It is God who clothes the wild grass—grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won't he be all the more sure to clothe you? What little faith you have! Luke 12:28

Karen Farris served in the crisis pregnancy ministry — traveling thousands of miles and speaking to over 10,000 students about their life choices — for nearly a dozen years. She became a grant writer and helps find resources for projects that serve those in poverty, mainly children. She's been a blogger since 2010 — Friday Tidings — sharing stories of faith, life, and purpose to give hope in a hurting world.