Way back in January 2006, I went to London for work purposes. The beauty of the city did not go unnoticed, but what stuck with me (years after this visit), was the short, rainy days. It was not a welcoming sight when you drew back the curtains of the Piccadilly and the view is yet again just another dark, gloomy day. The grey of London made me miss sunny South Africa. They should copy New York with their bright yellow taxis to bring a little sunshine into their days.
What I did admire though, were the bright yellow lights announcing their black taxis’ coming and going, unlike the hooting hell-drivers of our country.
The author of Ecclesiastes (I really do think it is Solomon) must have been in London as well, as we read in chapter 11 verse 7 (Amp) “The light is sweet and pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.”
To me, the break of dawn is the best hour of every day. As the new day arrives, so does God’s grace and mercy and an infinite number of new opportunities. No wonder that the No. 1 on my Top Ten songs ever, is 10 000 Reasons by Matt Redman. Matt Redman - 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) - YouTube (I am just reminded that I should not press the snooze button during winter times. It may even cure my seasonal depression.)
Yes! Winter blues are a reality for many of us – especially women. It must have been a woman who decided that we need a day to celebrate women during this specific time. Just before we get lost in a deep, dark hole we have a special day of female festivities to carry us through the cold and lonely nights. The winter dies together with the August wind’s cries and we welcome the sunny weather. By now, we are in desperate need of Vitamin D to penetrate through our skins, nestle into our bones for that pep in our step. Vitamin D is not only needed in Covid-times. It boosts bone health and reduces the risk of heart disease, weight gain and various cancers.
On the 9th of August, a few years ago, I celebrated Women’s Day with a few of my, by then, not so bright, and breezy girlfriends. The theme for the day was “Let the sun shine on your soul”. We sat around a round table with bright yellow sunflowers arranged in a vase smiling at each one of us.
We all received a small card with wise words from Helen Keller: “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.” This card got me interested in sunflowers.
We have a lot to learn from the sunflower:
1. Sunflowers are Sun seekers. They track the movement of the sun throughout the day from east to west. Overnight, thy reset their position, swinging their heads eastward. We are also wired by our Creator in the same way. We need to track the Son and follow Him daily. When the storms of life cloud our vision, we should seek the face of the Son to guide us. Just as the Sun is a star that is the central body of the earth’s solar system, around which the planets revolve and from which they receive light and heat, we should let our lives revolve around the Son of God.
2. Speaking about cloudy days… Sunflowers can even clear the air. They were used in the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear disaster to soak up toxins and decontaminate soil. Whenever you have a meltdown or a natural disaster, sunflowers are the answer.
3. The sunflower’s yellow, warm color represents joy, happiness, and laughter. Add a little touch of yellow in your life, either in your garden, your home, or your wardrobe.
4. Because sunflowers gravitate towards the light, they are symbols of truth and honesty. As they symbolize the idea of “shedding light on a matter” sunflowers embody the saying: “The Truth will set you free.
5. Sunflowers are drought tolerant because they have an extensive root system. Be rooted in faith so that you will be able to stand tall in the dry seasons of your life.
6. Bloom like the sunflower – year after year.
7. Become resilient. Because of the sunflower’s hardiness, they are symbols of vitality.
8. Be the sunshine if there is no sunshine.
I enjoyed this story about the magnificent sunflower by Lee Haydn Straight:
“Once there was a pretty little sunflower. She was taller than a rabbit. The sun gave her warmth every day and the sunflower grew and grew.
Once there was a beautiful sunflower. She was taller than a rabbit and a goat. The sun gave her warmth every day and the sunflower grew and grew.
Once there was a gorgeous sunflower. She was taller than a rabbit, a goat, and a horse. The sun gave her warmth every day and the sunflower grew and grew.
Once there was a glorious sunflower. She was taller than a rabbit, a goat, a horse, and a tree. The sun gave her warmth every day and she grew and grew.
Once there was a fantastic sunflower. She was taller than a rabbit a goat, a horse, a tree, and a house. The sun gave her warmth every day and she grew and grew.
Once there was a magnificent sunflower. She was taller than a rabbit a goat, a horse, a tree and a house and a skyscraper. The sun gave her warmth every day and the sunflower grew….and grew….and grew….
AND GREW through the clouds and way up into the sky until she reached the sun and said:
“THANK YOU!”
Today, thank the Son for your life and give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. Let the Son shine through you.
My prayer is that the eyes of our hearts will be opened to make hay while the sun shines. May we take advantage of the chance to do something great while conditions are good. May we grab opportunities with both hands. May we all find our place under the sun.
Carpe diem – seize the day!
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