Good Friday Dogwoods

 

An interesting legend involving the dogwood tree involves Christ crucified on the wood from one. It’s not true because there were no dogwoods in Israel during His time. Still, the legend persists because of the flower characteristics. Four white petals, each with a reddish spot, signify the cross and the nails.

Our dogwood, likely planted in 1958 when our house was constructed, blossoms this time of year in South Carolina. Its maturity ensures a large crown of majesty and this year was to be no different. We looked forward to enjoying the show.

This year it’s different. Last night the temperature dropped to below freezing and all of those little buds about to declare God’s gift to us, perished. Here’s a photo from this morning where the temperature is still not above forty degrees F.

I look at this photo and wonder if God is giving us one last warning. America, the land of the free and home of the brave, seems to have forgotten the greatest gift of a free choice. It wasn’t about being independent. It wasn’t about exhibiting aberrant behavior. It wasn’t about discarding the law. It was about being dependent upon God, Jesus our savior.

Plants show wonderful recovery from atmospheric and natural causes of injury. Trees can survive up to two years of leaf loss, either through drought or infestation. Fire, on the other hand, destroys any possibility of recovery.

I pray on this day of remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice we take the time to acknowledge God’s sovereignty in our lives and recall how our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. Some of those principles found in the Bible include God’s correction for a people wandering far from His love, many times with fire and brimstone. May God grant the United States one more time of reprieve. One more chance to turn the tide. One more opportunity to turn to Jesus and accept the legendary love of God by observing the flowers of the dogwood.