I had received the most beautiful bouquet of red roses from my husband for my birthday. Red roses are my very favorite. My husband knows it and loves surprising me with such amazingly beautiful flowers.
I love the beautiful lines of roses that come from the unique folds of petals. They are especially apparent when I capture a macro image with my Nikon D810 camera and Micro-Nikkor lens.
The Bible speaks of lines in Psalm 16 —
The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely.
Psalm 16:5-9
Here the psalmist is reflecting on his life and describes it in terms of lines. You might think of lines as the events and seasons, the tides and turns, and the ebbs and flows of a life. And he says that to him i.e. in his view or perspective, the lines have fallen in pleasant places.
These words give me pause. I immediately think of my mother who suffered greatly in the last ten years of her life. But she always would say to me, even when she was bedridden, "Catherine, I want you to know this — I have a beautiful life."
How could she (and this psalmist) have such a perspective?
I believe the psalmist goes on to explain it.
He says, "I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
Walking with the LORD, moment by moment, is the great secret. The LORD was EVERYTHING to my mother and to this psalmist. She wanted nothing more than to be with Him and in His presence. Therefore, she had an eternal perspective — she saw things differently — and she was content no matter what she had or where she was.
Dear friends, let us learn this secret. When we set the LORD continually before us, we will experience the "pleasant places" and beautiful heritage in life — just like the beauty of this delicate red rose — the lines fold into each other creating a beautiful bloom and giving off a fragrant aroma.
And you and I will be able to say with the psalmist: "My heart is glad and my glory rejoices" (Psalm 16:9).
Dear Lord, thank You that when we set You continually before us, we see things differently and find rejoicing and gladness in the midst of difficulties. May we say with the psalmist that the lines have fallen in pleasant places for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Blessings ♡ Grace
