Sunday, February 14, 2010

Sunday Afternoon Tea

Re-reading Hidden Art has me contemplating the importance of beauty in our lives and the reason we have within us an overwhelming desire to be surrounded by that which is lovely.

As Edith says in her book... many times and in various ways... Christians more than anyone should live a life that reflects beauty and creativity as we are made in the Image of a creative God.

Never perfect, of course, as only God is perfect.  Every attempt we make to bring beauty and creativity into our life will result in imperfection.

However, in this fallen world we find ourselves living... accepting the imperfections in people, places, and things is better than never trying at all.

It has been such a good weekend to be pondering a creative God... and us in His image.  I woke again Saturday morning to a thick layer of sparkle on the forest after another night of Hoar frost.  Soon I was throwing my flannel housecoat on and locating my boots at the bottom of the closet to stand on the front porch and snap away... the zoom lens allowing some great pictures without stepping into deeper snow.


 Light flurries were falling, which I found later is actually called diamond dust in a Hoar frost... as they are not actual flurries.  Diamond dust... now that is a lovely gift from the Creator on St. Valentine's Day weekend.  Especially when one did not have to drive on icy roads last night. :)

It has always been easy for me to see the beauty in God for He has poured out such loveliness to us in this world.  I mean, really, He didn't have to create that which makes chocolate or fine cheese or chewy loaves of french bread.  It is He who created the world which makes possible my morning coffee and afternoon tea.

He brings to us that which is seasonal... strawberries and rhubarb in spring, melon and tomatoes in summer, pumpkin and apples in autumn, and peppermint everything at Christmas... well, perhaps not everything... but enough.

How much we reflect the creativity of our Maker when we spend an afternoon in the kitchen baking a pie, roasting beef with mushrooms, mashing potatoes, steaming green beans, and putting on the pot of coffee when the snow is falling outside... or... creating tiny cucumber sandwiches, miniature lemon scones, and pouring pink lemonade in pretty teacups for a summer tea.

I fondly remember the picnics with my kids when we... at the last minute quite often... would assemble cheese and fruit and stop by the grocery for good bread on the way to the park.  Nothing which required any special creativity, other than the purchase of a vintage picnic basket at a garage sale during the summer, with such a picnic in mind.

It is God who placed us in a world of beauty which can leave us breathless... whether falling diamond dust on a Midwestern forest, the alps of Edith's home as she wrote, the amazing colors of a New England autumn, the calm waves of Lake Michigan in summer, the paprika coloring of the earth where my New Mexican friend lives... all the colors of the rainbow to make up the earth and sky and water which surrounds us.


Hubby surprised me yesterday with yellow roses.  He has been particularly generous this year (he knows I have not been feeling well since starting the powerful antibiotics).  Part of me wanted to tell him he should not have spent the money but the wisdom that comes with a long marriage caused me to bite my tongue and say thank you.  I carried yellow roses on our wedding day.  While I do love red roses and pink roses and lavender roses... my preference is always for yellow roses.  Looking at yellow roses makes me happy.

So, the next time I'm displaying pretty china, polishing the silver, dusting beautiful (inherited) antiques, admiring the large paws and pretty nose of a kitty, picking the freshest of green beans and tomatoes from the garden, listening to the music of birds or Bach, searching for treasure at the thrift store, walking beside the duck pond at the park, or feeling refreshment and strength as I read the Palms of King David... I will ponder the One who loves us enough to have placed us in such beauty.

And it isn't Heaven, yet... can you imagine?

17 comments:

Lisa Z said...

Beautiful yellow roses! They are my husband's favorite so that is what he likes to give me, too. Happy Valentine's Day.

I too long for and seek beauty in my days, and yes it is a testament to God's creativity that the world is filled with so much of it. Maybe not always needed but always necessary for our souls, I believe!

Anonymous said...

Lovely, descriptive writing in this post, Brenda, directing our thoughts heavenward. And, to creating beauty in our world. Sharon

Cherrie said...

Beautiful post! All God's glory! I too love yellow roses! Yours are very pretty!

Debby said...

Just beautiful, Brenda. Thank you.

matty said...

Lovely post, Brenda! Enjoy those velvety roses!

Marie said...

The yellow roses are beautiful! That was so sweet and thoughtful of him.
Happy Valentine's Day
Love,
Marie

Instagram.com/melissasnotes said...

A wonderful, reflective post. Your roses are lovely, let your husband know we appreciate you sharing them with us. I also received "happy" flowers...a red rose among white/yellow daisies, pink carnations. So beautiful for these snowy, winter days.

Anonymous said...

Well, good food is what hubby and I enjoy and today to celebrate our engagement 38 years ago, we ate lunch at Olive Garden. Twas a fun time and relaxing...and remembering the good and the funny times. I teased him that at least he paid a lot more for my lunch today than the night he proposed. He had intended to take me to a steak dinner in the CITY but had not remembered to figure out for sure just how to get there. After driving around a spell...he gave up and we ate at Denny's. With truck drivers and people in ordinary clothes...here he sat in his suit and me in a new 3 piece outfit with orchid corsage to boot. We were stared at so much by the other diners that I hardly ate a bite. Wasted food that night...oh well, at least it was CHEAP, eh? Those were the days...
HA!
Blessings, Elizabeth

Connie said...

Beautiful words and beautiful yellow roses.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm, diamond dust in a Hoar frost... I'm learning a lot of weather terminology from you. Thanks. Lovely thoughts today.

Vee said...

Oh enjoy and delight in your yellow roses. How thoughtful your hubby is!

This has been a very easy and most pleasant read. Thank you.

Patti said...

Nice post! And such pretty roses - let him spoil you for a day. :)

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Edith's book, first read many years ago, inspired much of how I try to make my home.

I believe much of it is how we choose to view life - seeking the beauty that Lord has surrounded us with, and being thankful for it!

Jodi said...

I loved your post; I agree with you wholeheartedly, although I don't think I could've written it as beautifully as you did. The whole earth is full of His glory.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your roses. I can't have flowers in the house because our kitties eat them!

Friend Debra

Dawn said...

I just came across your blog and was instantly at peace - beautiful words, music and pictures. Thank you!
Dawn

http://lifelinesjournaling.blogspot.com/

Christina said...

Yellow roses sound so lovely! Those were always my Grandma Riepe's favorite. :)
I didn't think I was going to get anything besides some chocolate from Mom for valentine's day, but a little boy I babysat for gave me one. :D