Jonquils in January

Up on the hill behind my house is a row of the most beautiful bright yellow jonquils in full bloom...AMAZING! What's so unusual about that?  Well these flowers that I planted about 19 years ago used to greet me right around Easter.  When I saw that first bright bloom beckoning me to the window I knew that a long dreary winter was ending and Spring was just around the corner.  But every year they seem to bloom earlier and earlier.  First it was March, then February, and now when it's still January in Tennessee, they are in full bloom against the otherwise dreary horizon of dead grass, bare branches and grey skies.  What an unexpected surprise!  Call it "global warming" if you want but I think it's God's way of delighting us in the unexpected blessing just when we need it the most.  It's like a long-lost friend popping up on Facebook and reconnecting that neglected friendship.  Just last week during our stay in Arkansas we were able to reconnect with two different couples who had been our "besties" when we left school for our first work in Missouri.  Being young and so far away from home these couples became like family.  But after several moves, many years and a few more kids we had grown distant.  When we reconnected last week it was such an unexpected pleasure and with our friendships rekindled we've promised to stay in touch forever!  Last November our family was facing one of our darkest days when my sweet father-in-law nearly left this life and the doctor came into his room in CCU to tell us that his chances of recovery were slim.  Less than 24 hours later to our surprise Ashley had flown across country with our 2-month-old baby granddaughter to be with their Papa.  Having that unexpected week-long visit with Ashley and Eden was the one bright spot that got us through the dark days.  As Ben got stonger and was able to hold his great-granddaughter for the first time I thought about the scripture in Ecclesiastes that says "To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven." Sometimes God gives us unexpected blessings out of season, like jonquils in January!