My heart leapt this morning when I saw these snowdrops rising from the hard frosty ground. They seem to have come early this year; perhaps because we need encouragement. We are grieving 100,000 deaths to COVID-19 in the UK. It was as if their little drooping heads with tear drop petals were reflecting our own feelings of sadness as we mourn those who have died and how this pandemic is ravishing our country. These are solemn days of reflection and, of course, for many the grief is deeply personal as loved family members have been lost without even a fitting farewell. Like the snowdrops we all must bow our heads.
Prayer
Church leaders are calling the nation to daily prayer, to lament and express to God and each other our sense of sorrow. This pandemic is surely humbling us with the highest death toll in Europe, escalating unemployment, lost livelihoods and the terrible effects on mental health from successive lockdowns and isolation. There is no room for arrogance or complacency. Perhaps if we can acknowledge our poverty of spirit and humbly mourn our sorry condition we will find God bringing us comfort and strength, as is his promise ( Matthew 5:3-4).
How brave is the tiny snowdrop! What inner strength to push through the frozen earth at perhaps the coldest week of winter. And as our nation reaches the peak of tragedy we too need a steely resolve to recognise the hard reality of our situation, yet rise with a resilient strength of character that can weather storms ahead, not with triumphalistic fanfare but with quiet prayerful trust. The church needs to model this, for many are putting their hope in scientists and vaccines. While we give thanks for the skill and dedication of all our key workers and pray much for them, nothing is certain as the virus continues to mutate. Our hope and trust must be in God.
Symbol of Hope
Snowdrops are small with a beauty that is pure and unassuming. These humble snowdrops have a unique role to play. First to bloom when winter is still raging they herald the good news that spring is on its way. They are a symbol of hope and future joy. The Apostle Peter reminds us that because of God’s great mercy and Christ’s resurrection we’ve been born again to a life of hope now and always (1 Peter 1:3). It’s our privilege to live as people of resurrection and to be a symbol of hope for those around us, to herald the good news that death has been defeated. Death has lost its sting!
Lenna’s Blog 
Lenna I am compelled to leave a comment to these excellent pieces of writing. They are both thought provoking and instructive. This morning i returned to read again and the reference to the words of Jesus from Matthew 5 just quickened my spirit. So often I pray these beattitudes into my own life, repeatedly my starting point.
Many thanks Henrietta.
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Oh, Henrietta, I sense a kindred spirit and hope we can meet one day. I love all your Giddy in the Garden poems – conjure up such lovely pictures in my mind. Bless you, Lenna
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Thank you Lenna I also loved your hope and history rhyme. It helped put fresh perspective on “whatever we think about the politics of America.’ It is good to have that as it caused me reflect at a different level what is going on in my heart and I think that has to be good as it helps me pray,I hope, more effectively.
Appreciate your kind response I really ought to post more but I so often wrestle with writing. It feels like it has to be wrung out of me.
Henrietta
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