Dark Glass Ponderings

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. -1 Corinthians 13:12

My husband and I have been reading Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, a gift from a dear friend.  Here are some words that have spoken to my heart this evening:

Once the Shepherd stooped and touched the flowers gently with his fingers, then said to Much-Afraid with a smile, "Humble yourself, and you will find that Love is spreading a carpet of flowers beneath your feet."
Much-Afraid looked at him earnestly.  "I have often wondered about the wild flowers," she said.  "It does seem strange that such unnumbered multitudes should bloom in the wild places of the earth where perhaps nobody ever sees them and the goats and the cattle can walk over them and crush them to death.  They have so much beauty and sweetness to give and no one on whom to lavish it, nor who will even appreciate it."

The look the Shepherd turned on her was very beautiful.  "Nothing my Father and I have made is ever wasted," he said quietly, "and the little wildflowers have a wonderful lesson to teach.  They offer themselves so sweetly and confidently and willingly, even if it seems there is no one to appreciate them.  Just as though they sang a joyous little song to themselves, that it is so happy to love, even though one is not loved in return."

"I must tell you a great truth, Much-Afraid, which only the few can understand.  All the fairest beauties in the human soul, its greatest victories, and its most splendid achievements are always those which no one else knows about, or can only dimly guess at.  Ever inner response of the human heart to Love and every conquest over self-love is a new flower on the tree of Love.

"Many a quiet, ordinary and hidden life, unknown to the world, is a veritable garden in which Love's flowers and fruits have come to such perfection that it is a place of delight where the King of Love Himself walks and rejoices with his friends.  Some of my servants have indeed won great visible victories and are rightly loved and reverenced by other men, but always their greatest victories are like the wild flowers, those which no one knows about.  Learn this lesson now, down here in the valley, Much-Afraid, and when you get to the steep places of the mountains, it will comfort you."
(Hurnard, 42-43)

6 comments:

That is beautiful!! And a great lesson! :)

So glad it blessed you as it did me :)

I love Hinds Feet... I haven't read it in years, but my girl just read it.

BTW, check out my Super Sweet Summer Giveaway post for an update! :-)

Linda, I'm so glad you love Hind's Feet, too and that you are passing it on to the next generation. I'm hoping to read some of Hurnard's other books, they all sound fantastic.

Thanks so much!! I'm excited to win a read from you! Congratulations again on your 1000th post!!

Have a great day!

Ask yourself the tough questions -- "Why am I sharing this?" "What do I want to see happen when I share this?" And give yourself honest answers.

Thank you. Those are great questions Quilly. Ones that only God can truly show us, I know I often need to check my own motives.


Julia M. Reffner

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Christ-loving bookworm & homeschool mom of 2 stealing the rare quiet moments to pursue that all elusive writing dream. I also write book reviews for Title Trakk and The Historical Novel Society.

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