BREATHE
I have been working tirelessly at a new business my husband and I recently acquired. Too many hours in a day demanded. Too many days of the week spent. Too many weeks of the year evaporate into thin air. Gone!
So today I decided to purposefully take time to reflect, to ponder, to quiet my racing soul. For the stress levels were rising and my spirit felt disjointed and distant from my Creator.
The best way for me to find peace is to walk deep into the forest and let God’s creation speak. This is what I heard.
The steep descent from canyon ridge to canyon floor left humanity far behind. Just what I needed.
The spring run-off from the creek below grew increasingly loud and arrogant. At the canyon bottom the rush and roar reminded me of my busy life. I was like that water ever screaming through my day. The pull, the tug, the demand of the current was like the responsibility of managing staff, ordering inventory, learning a new computer system, revamping, rebuilding, restructuring…busy, busy, busy.
As I meandered along the chaotic creek busting at the seams, I realized what God was saying. “Spring run-off is but for a season, soon this raging torrent will subside to friendly waters. Be of good cheer, your life will once again gentle.”
Ahhhh, what a pleasant thought.
I let the word “gentle” roll around in my head.
My eyes caught the hues of wild purple Lupins, bright yellow Sunflowers, verdant green moss clinging from darkened bark, the red breast of a robin, and black clouds against cobalt blue. The world was alive with color.
Again God spoke…”Life is colorful, some days are bright and cheery, others are dark or blue, but I am in them all. I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
At this reminder I could literally feel my body begin to unwind. I did not have to be in control, nor did I have control. The same God who created the colors of the rainbow, would paint the picture of my life.
The endless sing-song of birds twittering and tweeting, the rustling of wind blown leaves, and the bliss of NO man-made noise was purely divine. Like turning off the endless chatter of a radio station, the tranquility of nature soothed my tired soul.
It felt like God orchestrated a symphony just for me. I could feel his gentle presence whisper… “Enjoy my child.”
And so I did.
As tension poured from my being and my body relaxed, I was blessed with one more delicious treat. If you have ever walked in the spring after a cleansing rain, you will relate. The smells are unbelievably sweet. Wild roses, new leaves, and spring blossoms (to mention just a few) permeated my walk with perfume from heaven.
Kinda like the icing on top the cake. God smiled down and whispered…”Breathe. Take a deep breath in, and breathe.”
Ahhh...Yes! Sweet smells, sweet sounds, sweet peace. Thank you Jesus.
I found God today in the solace and quiet of His creation and learned a valuable lesson. No matter what season I find my life in, be it happy, sad, peaceful, painful, or incredibly busy, God is in it. I just have to seek and I will find Him.
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About the author
Blossom Turner is an award-winning novelist, and a free-lance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, and former newspaper columnist on health and fitness. A Word Guild semi-finalist for Anna's Secret, Katherine's Arrangement, Amelia’s Heartsong, and a Word Guild winner for Best Romance for Lucinda’s Defender. She has found her home in the writing of historical fiction but is open to wherever God leads. The many 5-star reviews attest to the power of love and romance authentically woven into the Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their five love stories.
Blossom lives in British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, David, of forty years and their dog Lacey named after Lacey Spring, Virginia, where this series takes place. A former businesswoman, personal trainer, and mother of two grown children she is now pursuing her lifelong dream of writing full-time. A hopeless romantic at heart, she believes all story should give the reader significant entertainment value. However, her writing embodies the struggles of real life. She infuses the reality of suffering with the hope of Christ to give a healthy dose of relatable encouragement to her reader. Her desire is to leave the reader with a yearning to live for Christ on a deeper level, or at the very least, create a hunger to seek for more.
Co-author Suzie Zanewhich
Suzie is a certified life coach, leader of emotional health, and resource specialist. She has found her niche as a soul coach.
Suzie finds purpose in empowering individuals to move towards growth, healing, and alignment with their authentic self. Suzie is driven by a calling to live authentically, as the person God created her to be, to reach her fullest potential and lead others to do the same. Her passion is to help others find meaning through discovering their strengths, gifts, personality, temperament and core values.
Suzie is a life-long learner, continuously immersing herself in new courses to learn more about human behaviour, relationships, psychology, child development, emotions, trauma and healing. Because of her craving to always learn more she has earned the title of resource specialist in the area of self-discovery.
Suzie Zanewich lives with her husband in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She has a patchwork family of four grown children, two daughters, two sons and three granddaughters.
Comments 1
Guest - Donna
on Thursday, 13 June 2013 15:30
Blossom, this was so beautiful! God has big plans for you sweet sis!!
Your writing is so wonderful, what a gift.
This really spoke to me about needing to be still and listening for Gods voice.
I tend to always be doing something, hard to just be still.
Love you Sweet Bee!