That Little Flame

"What is that?"

"Where?"
"Right there. What is that little flame that she is setting down?"
"Oh - that is hope."
"Hope?"
"Yes, a persistent hope."
"And who is that, the one lying down behind it?"
"That is one in need of hope."
"And who sent this hope?"
"He did - the One who loves her more than any other."
"But is that little flame enough? She seems so . . . so downcast."
"Oh, yes, more than enough. You see that little flame will grow."
"It will?"
"Yes. First it will fill her heart, then it will light her eyes, then it will make her rise up off the ground, and then she will shine."
"Shine?"
"Yes, like He himself."
"That brightly? Really?"
"Oh, yes. He loves to make His children shining lights!"

Artwork: Dawn of Hope (c) Daniel Gerhartz
http://www.danielgerhartz.com

In the Middle of the Ruins

I told you that you would find them. Right there in the middle of the ruins – at least what you believed were the ruins of your life. Flowers growing where you thought they would never grow again. A green sprig of hope . . . a strong stem of faith . . . a vivid blossom of joy. Ready for you to gather with a fresh new purpose.

You didn’t wish to return to that plot of land again. I know you didn’t. You insisted that place has only ruins on it, ugly rubble that reminds you of the loss. But the One who knows you best of all, knew differently. Beneath the broken rubble on that scarred plot of land is right where you would find your healing.  

He’s not called the Creator of all things for no reason, you know. With Him, life springs up even out of ruins.

Artwork: Among the Ruins by Lawrence Alma-Tadema