Streams of Mercy
Years ago my Junior High Sunday School teacher, Mary Robinson, gave me a copy of the devotional book, Streams in the Desert. I often refer to this book as “my old friend Streams,” for through the years I’ve found in its pages comfort, strength and direction for my life’s journey. I was reminded of this as I prepared a devotion for a weekly meeting.
The story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning, and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak that stood near the gate what the trouble was. He found it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all out of heart because it could not bear grapes, like the vine. The vine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and have as fine fruit as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac; and so on all through the garden.
Coming to a heart’s-ease, he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. “Well, heart’s-ease, I’m glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.” “ I am not of much account,” replied the flower, “but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a heart’s-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart’s-ease that I can be.” (from Streams in the Desert, Mrs. Charles E. Cowman.)
The heart’s-ease is a common wildflower, also known as Johnny-Jump-Up or a wild pansy. The word “heartsease” means peace of mind, or tranquility. In the story, the heart’s-ease is content to be what God created it to be. When we know such peace and have such assurance of purpose, we too have peace of mind, and “heartsease.”
The apostle Paul, denied of every comfort, and while imprisoned in a dungeon, wrote these words: “ I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11 KJV)
What an important life lesson to learn – to accept ourselves the way God made us, and, whatever our circumstance, to be the very best we can be, discovering, developing and sharing the gifts God has given us.
“Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God’s heritage
Can do it so well as you.”
Let us give thanks for experience of heartsease and peace of mind, for finding contentment right where we are, for opportunities to use the gifts God has given us wherever we may be, and for streams of mercy, never ceasing!
Elizabeth