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Picture of the day -
April 5, 2007
Colorful Tulips Shivering Through "Dogwood Winter"
It happens every year: The cold winds of winter give way to spring,
and the beautiful spot on the planet that we call home warms up,
bringing renewal to all that God has made. Before we know it we have
gotten used to 70+ degree temperatures, blooming flowers and singing
birds - but then out of the blue it arrives...
 Dogwood
Winter is a typically short, but very unwelcome "cold snap" that
arrives each and every year around Easter - the time when the
dogwood trees begin to burst into bloom here in southwestern
Virginia. The Flowering Dogwood tree is covered with
spectacular white or pink cross-shaped blossoms with a little pink
or red "stain' on the end of each petal.
Legend has it that the shape of the Dogwood blossom represents the
cross on which our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ sacrificed His own
life so that we might gain it, and the little stain represents the
blood He shed in order that we all might be saved. This beautiful
tree is so well loved here in Virginia that we have honored it by
making it our state flower!
Personally, I believe that God makes us endure Dogwood Winter as a
chilling reminder of what His precious Son did for us just a little
over 2,000 years ago. It was a sad day indeed when they beat Jesus
beyond recognition, then nailed Him to the cross on Calvary and left
him hanging there between heaven and earth for six hours until he
finally "gave up the ghost". But then three days later He arose
triumphant from a grave that couldn't hold Him, and He lives today
up in heaven with the Father, waiting for everyone who recognizes
and accepts His precious gift of life to come and join Him.
And so it is with Dogwood Winter. That first blast of cold air is
like a slap in the face, but just a few days later spring returns in
all its glory - and we appreciate it all the more.
About the photo: Yesterday evening Cheria and I noticed that all
of the colorful tulips that adorn the front of our house were in
full bloom, but the pictures we took of them didn't turn out so good
because they were in the shade. I got up bright and early this
morning to see if I could get a better picture of the tulips but the
33° temperature had them closed up and "shivering" in the chilly
wind.
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