“One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.” – Proverbs 17:9 (NRSV)
As I thought on this wisdom provided by the Book of Proverbs I tried to interpret the action that comes with the wisdom from an all inclusive perspective. I was delighted that this wisdom speaks to friends and the cycle of friendship. Thinking from this point I don’t think it would call for to much effort not to dwell on a dispute or not forgive an affront.
I tried to arrange a beautiful bouquet from this understanding. A single fragrant Southern white Magnolia floating in an oblong water bowl with their leaves of shiny wax green floating near by with a few unscented small candles lite and glowing and directing light showing it’s dignity and beauty. In my mind this gives a perfect photo of a friend and shows the harmony of a friendship. A friend and friendship is value that only becomes devaluated when one allows unforgiveness which might just happen when one dwells on a dispute.
When I feel to enter the mind spin zone of dwelling on the negative and causing the wind of my words to blow out the candles and open my mouth to affront a harmless negative I run into Colossians 3:12-17. It is a great Book to find directives to redirect my thoughts and continue to enjoy the magnolia fragrance of friendship!
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What beautiful words, thoughts and scriptures and pictures to dwell on from this blog, Sara!
Of the different flowers I look at it in field and garden, tree and shrub, I have always thought of the magnolia as a rich flower…it just looks rich.
As I read the verse you used above, Colossians 3:12-17, it seemed very rich to me also and even spoke of richness…”Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.” (vs 16)
Yes, Debi, the verses from Col. 3:12-17 are very rich in mind-soul nuritients. Here they are from ESV “12) Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17) And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I agree Debi, beautiful blog! Awesome how scripture when placed in the renewed daily mind of a seeker the visuals become reality in so many different ways.
As I picked up a devotional that I have not read in awhile today’s reading was about friends and their importance in our lives. The reading contained a quote that made me reflect more on these words written in the blog by Sara: “…with a few unscented small candles lite and glowing and directing light showing it’s dignity and beauty…”.
The quote in the reading was by Albert Schweitzer and said, “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
Thanks Debi, for taking the time to befriend us by sharing Schweitzer’s inner thoughts on friendship! Now, that’s sharing energy from one to another. One hot color we are to daily wear according to St. Paul is kindness. (Col. 3) In Schweitzer quote he encourages us to think and show gratitude to those who have” lighted a flame within us” by giving our energy light to others. Surely, he, as a master of LIGHT, has a burning flame that only shines brighter day after day and year after year and I think we could say he is an eternal flame!
Now, as I dress my mind in thoughts of sharing encouragement from today’s blog trolley I hope to burst somebody’s negative self talk into positive truth! Hopefully, my light may clear their vision and truth of themselves that has been so uniquely created and woven in threads of God’s light (glory) will be a beam of joy upon discovery. ✨🌟💫🕊💫💕
And I agree also, with that quote of godly wisdom, How often I do pray for those whose ‘light’ has enlightened my being…those whose anointed gifts are different than mine. Those who have PLANTED into my life. I so appreciate the teachings that, even though I can’t quote them verbatim, have cast the illumination of revelation concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and the God-Head,
and added to my Christian walk. I am most grateful to the ‘luminaries’ of our times and especially those in my life…. from whom I have received much along the Way….the long and winding road to the Messiah. To quote a friend, { not exact quote but the meaning is there }, ”Jesus draws straight paths with crooked lines.” And I am most grateful to those who throw their Light forward upon the path that leads to Christ.
Friends are like pins! They help to hold the fabric of life in place. Many times the stitching needle glides right over them giving them or fabric absolutely no harm. Only a more perfect seam and hem. Oh, yes they can prick and even dig when a pesty splinter needs to be dislodged.
They just so often hold a raveling embarrassment in place. But, more often then not they are busy hold a family heirloom or updated brooch tightly and securely in place. The use and need of pins are vast to say the least. With a friend like a pin who needs to confront a minor affront?
Love your thoughts and uses for a pin, Sara…and the analogy! It really made me see and appreciate a pin in a new light. A pin can seem so small, and having them available so taken for granted…until you need one!
I had to use a lot of pins one day this week while putting together floral orders for a bride to be…bouquets with ribbon wrapped stems secured by pins; and boutonnieres anchored to a lapel by a pin.
So, so true what you said…”With a friend like a pin who needs to confront a minor affront?”
Whoa Debi, that is another great analogy of pins, friends, love and care! I’m sure your wedding party will never realize just how a pin held the glamour of their wedding together! A friend is like a pin!
I have a friend that is internet savvy in connecting to others and connection others to others! A gift so sought after by many but the many does not always come into the class of connectors. For many years I read and enjoyed the colorful prints in my little keep-sake book, “The Twelve Teas of Friendship.” 2001…A quote I read there and tried to practice I love…”One of the best gifts you can give to a friend is to share your other friends.” The photo with this quote is a little tea table with perfect coverings, tea pot and cups with just the right cookies. The most appealing living part of the art is there is a third chair to announce the introduction of friend to friend. 👨❤️👨👩👩👦👦 That was 2001 and now we are 2016 and this is the table of friendship connectors. Look at her tea table through her words and how table has become a PIN!
“As you peruse the internet you can “pin” all your favorite images to your boards. I have 19 different boards (home decor, fashion, art inspiration, and more) and I’m pinning inspirational photos to all my boards on a daily basis” She has invited me to pin with them and enjoy friendship in new and fresh ways.
I love the beauty of connecting! It seems to have a perfect appeal in introducing friend to friend. Love to hear your stories of connecting friends.
One of our faithful long time friends, Phil, from NY shared this site with us. http://pollinator.org/pollinator_week_2015.htm
It is so informative and enjoyable to browse. It covers many topics some of us are BUZZIN about.
Phil and I had been sharing an interest of magnolias. This lovely bloom which I term, our friendship flower. And, it just happened to be his wife’s favorite flower. Just another “God Whisper”, don’t you think?
Phil gives us an almanac report on planting of the magnolia:
“A Springville chiropractor has what I think is the ONLY magnolia tree in the “tri-county” area. And the poor thing struggles to bloom those magnificent flowers out ahead of its foliage. Most times, remembering that Springville (and its neighboring town of Sardinia where we live enjoys even colder temperatures!) its blooms collapse and fall soon after they appear. We’re in Hardiness Zone 5, minimum temps -20 to -10. NC varies in zones 7 and 8 from 0-10, 10-20, respectively.”
Debi, our in-house horticulturalist, has worked with my limited knowledge of time and location planting informed me recently that among the many magnolias there are a few that are groomed for colder zones. Debi, give us an update.
My creative fragrance of magnolia friendship has just had another awakening as Phil and Pat incited me to think on a bee sting on a bare foot while sitting around a splintered old wood table and chairs playing checkers with the matriarchs and patriarchs of coumminity with the lingering and longing of magnolia love hours after the game had ended. 💕
Thanks for sharing Phil’s pollinator site! I loved looking at the photo gallery and checking out some of the many links and great valuable info throughout that will help us support and protect our pollinators that are so vital to us all.
So very cool that the magnolia is Phil’s wife’s favorite. Yes, I agree, Sara, that is a “God Whisper”!
And I see from reading Phil’s almanac report that it sure is cold in his area. Regarding an update on cold-hardy magnolias, Sara: there is one Southern white type evergreen magnolia that I am aware of that is bred for colder areas (grower says even zone 5) named Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia. http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/1831/brackens-brown-beauty-magnolia/
This grower website has some additional info on it along with suggestions of other types of magnolias, like the saucer and star types (who lose their leaves in winter) which come in bloom colors ranging from white to yellow to purple. Some of these are rated as Zone 4 (even colder than Phil’s 5!) plants, although it seems none have that bloom that Sara refers to as having such “dignity and beauty” as the Southern white Magnolia.