Flourishing Like a Flower / 发旺如花
Dexu Xia
Flourishing Like a Flower
The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field. Psalm 103:15
My youngest grandson is only two months old, yet every time I see him I notice little changes. Recently, as I cooed to him, he looked up at me and smiled! And suddenly I began crying. Perhaps it was joy mixed with remembering my own children’s first smiles, which I witnessed so long ago, and yet it feels like just yesterday. Some moments are like that—inexplicable.
In Psalm 103, David penned a poetic song that praised God while also reflecting on how quickly the joyful moments of our lives pass by: “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone” (vv. 15–16).
But despite acknowledging the brevity of life, David describes the flower as flourishing, or thriving. Although each individual flower blossoms and blooms swiftly, its fragrance and color and beauty bring great joy in the moment. And even though an individual flower can be quickly forgotten—“its place remembers it no more” (v. 16)—by contrast we have the assurance that “from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him” (v. 17).
We, like flowers, can rejoice and flourish in the moment; but we can also celebrate the truth that the moments of our lives are never truly forgotten. God holds every detail of our lives, and His everlasting love is with His children forever!
发旺如花
至于世人，他的年日如草一样，他发旺如野地的花。-诗篇103篇15节
我最小的孙子只有两个月大，但每次我见到他都会发现一些细微的变化。最近，当我轻声细语地哄他时，他竟然看着我，对我微笑！那一刻，我却突然忍不住掉下眼泪。那是一种百感交集的情绪，带着看见新生儿的喜悦以及时光流逝的感慨。因这让我想到，当年看到我孩子的第一个笑容已经是很久的事了，但感觉就像昨天才发生。有些时刻的情绪就像这样，让人无法解释。
在诗篇103篇，大卫写了一首赞美上帝的诗歌，同时也反映了我们生命中快乐的时光是多么容易消逝：“至于世人，他的年日如草一样，他发旺如野地的花；经风一吹，便归无有。”（15-16节）
但是，尽管知道生命的短暂，大卫还是描绘了花草欣欣向荣的样子。虽然每朵花的花期都很短暂，但其香气、颜色，和美丽在当下都带来极大的快乐。纵然一朵花可能很快就被遗忘，正如16节说：“他的原处，也不再认识他。”但我们确信“耶和华的慈爱归于敬畏祂的人，从亘古到永远”（17节）。
我们可以像花儿一样为当下快乐、绽放光彩，也可以为生命中的重要时刻不会被遗忘而欢欣。因上帝看顾我们生活中的每个时刻，祂永恒的爱也永远与祂的儿女同在！
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