The Lily of the Valley

                                    Son 2:1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

        When I was planning our wedding back in 1998, I wanted Lily of the Valleys to be my main flower in my bridal bouquet. To my disappointment, I learned that the season would be over by the time Joe and I got married, so I had to choose a different flower. There is just something about that dainty little bell that I love so much.        
        A few years ago I planted two Lily of the Valley plants by the side of my house. I looked forward to the time when they would bloom and bring forth some of the prettiest, sweetest-smelling flowers around. Two years passed before I remembered the delicate flowers, but once again I was too late and found they had already bloomed and died before I had time to enjoy the white flowers. I was extremely disappointed, but made a mental note not to forget them again.         
        Last year I remembered just in time and picked a stem of the flowers and brought them into the house. They do not last long at all, but the good thing is the plants are spreading and I may have more to savor for a longer time in the future. 
        This year I have been carefully watching the flowers bud and open up, and any day now I am going to go out and pick them so I can smell them for a few days and I cannot wait! As I was thinking about the Lily of the Valley this morning, I thought about it says in Song of Solomon about the delicate flower and wondered just why the Lord is compared to that particular flower. What I found blessed my heart and I hope it does yours too. 
        First of all, the flower is usually always white, which is a symbol of purity. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God, Who has no sin to stain His life and heart. We need to strive to be like Jesus and keep the stain of the world away from our walk with Him and ruining our testimony. 
        Then there is the sweet perfume that radiates from such a small flower. The bell is may be tiny, but its aroma penetrates the air leaving a sweet pleasant smell. Our Lord is sweet, and with Him in our life, we should radiate His sweetness to all those around us, to both family and strangers. 
        Lastly, the name, Lily of the Valley, can represent the low places in our life. The trials,  humiliations, and hard, stony grounds we face  as we go through our Christian walk can be tough and discouraging, but we can rest in the peace that He has already been through what we are experiencing. He will not leave us to deal with our problems alone. He will always be by our side. He is there with us as we go through the valley, never leaving us alone. 
        I do love God's beautiful nature He gave to us. If you have not stopped to actually take time to 'smell the roses' so to speak, slow down a little and learn to enjoy the beauty that God has placed around us. You will be surprised at how blessed and encouraged you will be, not to mention awestruck at how intricate the littlest details really are. And, before I forget, I am going to run out and pick one of my stems of lilies right now! ~♥~