Daffodils

You plant the bulbs in autumn, and the daffodils stay hidden away, unseen, maybe even forgotten, and then, as winter rolls on, you see those first stems pushing through the earth. And week by week, they grow taller, until those bright yellow flowers stand proud. It’s their time to shine. And they do so beautifully.

I remember studying “I wandered lonely as a cloud” by William Wordsworth, as part of my ‘O’ Level English Literature course. Here’s the first and last verse:

“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”

“And then my heart
with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.”

William Wordsworth – I wandered lonely as a cloud

It’s beautiful, isn’t it. And I know that feeling, when my heart fills with pleasure, and dances with the daffodils. Perhaps you do, too.

My mum loved her daffodils in our garden in Anderson Avenue in Rugby. When she was going through her brave fight with pancreatic cancer back in 1990/91, she asked the doctor if she would ever travel again, and he said to maybe think of something nearer. “Will I see my daffodils bloom?” she asked. The doctor said that was a good thing to look towards.

She did see those daffodils bloom in mid March of 1991, and then passed away on 10th April.

I plant my daffodils each year, and when they bloom, I remember her. It’s a way of remembering, but also honouring her. My love of plants and gardening comes from her, I’m sure.

During the Last Supper, Jesus introduced a practice designed to help us to remember him. Each time we take Communion, we remember his sacrifice on the Cross, and all he has done for us. “Do this, in remembrance of me.” Each time we eat and drink at our meal time, and we say grace, we get to remember him too.

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 22:19 ESV

There are many examples recorded of how people did not recognise Jesus as first, after he had died and rose again.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. ⁵ And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” ⁸ And they remembered his words, ⁹ and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. – Luke “4:1-9 ESV

On the road to Emmaus, two of Jesus’ followers were walking and talking about what had happened, and Jesus drew near to them, “but their eyes were kept from recognising him”. After interpreting all the Scriptures concerning himself, the men urged him to stay with them. “³⁰ When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.” – Luke 24:30-31

And after Jesus had died, and resurrected back to life, even his close disciples did not recognise him, until he broke the bread, and they remembered.

Perhaps you have something special that reminds you of a loved one.

What practices do you have in your own life to help you remember something or someone important? I’d love to know! Let me know in the comments.