St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“Lord, by wisdom You laid the earth’s foundations,
By understanding You set the heavens in place,
By Your knowledge the deeps were divided,
based on Proverbs 3 v 19, 20 And the clouds let drop dew.”
Together in winter, with frost, ice and snow,
All to make our face and fingers glow,
Plus us to amaze, offer praise for the story
Of winter white, breathtaking glory.
Our world can turn frosty white overnight.
Icy flow, go slow, so we must halt.
Stop our busyness to seek the beauty.
The touch of God’s hand,
His majestic command over nature,
Gives ready rise to awed, displayed, wonder making marvel.
The sparkle of ice crystals twinkles.
Flower colour is enhanced by the crisp edging.
Frost added to snow is spectacular in brightest white.
All glory to the Sender of such marvellous splendour.
An icy blast of frosty weather, although for a gardener
Not really welcome, destroying new shoots,
The redeeming feature for the onlooker
Is winter beauty is somewhat lost without frost.
Feathery grasses appear crinkly, structural seedheads highlighted.
Beautiful berries look bolder by contrast of colour.
Leaves too, are enhanced by detail,
For the frost traces veins as well as speckling with white.
Sometimes the shades, as with the ‘Sunningdale’ bergenia
Have the added feature of blue green, toned rosy red,
Edged by frost which must make you think
‘How skilful is this Portrayer of nature.’
Any pink can glow deeper into burgundy in frosty weather.
Whilst trees that normally sway in the breeze,
Stand stiffly to attention as if the January garden requires a sentinel.
Evergreen shrubs and close view of winter flowers in tubs
With their form, all fronds traced precisely,
As if by the magic wave of a fairy wand,
Harness our attention with ice lined fronds and stark stems,
Sitting prettily against the shiny dark green fir tree feature.
Hoar frosts, God’s gift during winter.
A night time and clear sunny day splendour,
Are indeed thankfully, a wonder of nature.
Would this not make you want to pray
So as to acknowledge beauty as the glory of God?
If not, why not, for it could and should!
Imagine the drab, mundane, dullness of each day

If we had nothing to pray about.
It has been said, that is the very heavy burden
An atheist has to contend with.
No one to thank when happy, turn to if sad,
Thank when touched by a wonder of nature.
Let this not be so, not at all!
Hear the Lord God’s silent call through splendour,
Then respond conversationally, expressing gratitude.
Gratitude is but an attitude of appreciation developed.
This must be for God’s family, developed daily.
So open our eyes wide to see, your mind to appreciate,
Your heart to understand at least something
Of the many ways in which God approaches us.
Then devote time prayerfully, but be warned!
God is never outdone in generosity.
So whatever we do to honour Him,
We will be paid back in times of multiplicity favour.
Then of course, it is a necessity to pray again.

Lord, teach us to pray! Every day there is some cause to pray about. Please alert us by Your Spirit, so as to
guard us from taking Your love for granted. Amen.

26.01.20