One spring I decided to visit my sister on South Africa’s West Coast to see the famous display of wild flowers. 

At mid-morning my sister and I drove directly into the morning sun. I glanced around eagerly but my spirits dropped; the country was clothed in a drab grey-green. ‘The best flowers are up ahead,’ said my sister with a twinkle in her eye. 

I stared forward. Nothing! Then my sister pulled over and made a 180-degree turn. I gasped with disbelief! As far as the eye could see the countryside was clothed in a dazzling tapestry of orange, white and yellow daisies.

‘They were there all the time,’ explained my sister. ‘These daisies are true “sun-flowers”. They close up at night or in overcast weather, but when the sun shines they all turn their faces toward the sun. Driving here, we could see only the drab undersides.’ It was as if I had been blind, but now I could see!

As I pondered this, I remembered that Jesus came to bring recovery of sight to the blind. So often our focus is on the gloomy negatives of life. 

We need to come to Jesus and let him make a 180-degree turn in our attitudes. That is when he gives us ‘beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness’ (Isaiah 61:3, KJV).

Prayer: Dear Lord, open our eyes that we may see the beauty of your creation and the wonderful love you have for us. Amen