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Saturday, April 11, 2020

The Sign of the Trillium

Uppermost in my mind during these past weeks of Lent has been a vivid memory from the day my beloved father passed away — Easter, 2017.

I will never forget the amazing gift of assurance that God provided to me that Sunday morning: two three-petal flowers (one pure white, the other dark red) suddenly appearing on the trillium plant that Dad had set out in the yard many years before.

Those sweet little wildflowers (photo above), nestled under the shade of a hicks yew bush north of the driveway, were just waiting to be found. Had it only been the dark red flower springing up from the bed of English ivy, this sign of hope could easily have been missed; but the pure white flower set off by that lush sea of green could never have been overlooked. It stood out as a shining beacon! Coincidence that both blossoms would just happen to appear right before my eyes on the morning of my father’s passing? I don’t think so!

Perfectly timed for Easter, the red trillium was a beautiful reminder of the redeeming blood of Christ; the white trillium, of His glorious resurrection and the promise of eternal life.

Blooming there in the yard, side-by-side, on that very day, those two little flowers were also a powerful sign for me that the reunion I was hoping and praying my parents were enjoying was indeed taking place. A “God-sign” that I believe was sent to assure me that my father had awakened in Heaven that Easter Sunday morning, and my mother was right there to greet him. She had been waiting for him for 14 years. Inseparable in life, now together again at last, they were safe and secure in God’s loving arms. An undeniable feeling of peace eased my questioning, aching heart that morning. The memory still comforts me today.

I’ll never forget the sign of the trillium.

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* The beautiful photograph of the trillium flowers was taken by good friend and Master Gardener Linda McMullen. So grateful, Linda.

6 Comments »

  1. I remember when this happened,dear Mary! Thanks so much for your wonderful words! Much love

    Gretchen H. Brown on April 12, 2020 @ 9:17 am

  2. Mary, how precious this is. It shows just how attuned you are to God’s ways of communicating with us. Others might not have made the connection. He reaches us in so many ways. One way for me today was this message!! Love, Ina

    Ina Van Diyn on April 12, 2020 @ 12:32 pm

  3. Mary, what a lovely memory! Thank you for sharing with us on this special day, Easter Sunday.

    My heart is filled with joy as Becky set up a Zoom meeting with our entire family and we were able to be together for over an hour!!! What JOY! And then we “went” to her church, Connection Pointe and the family watched and listened together over the web! Such wonderful technology!

    Happy Easter, Mary!

    Carol Scott on April 12, 2020 @ 12:48 pm

  4. Such a beautiful memory, Mary. I love that you have reminded us that plants connect us to our loved ones, who are never far from our hearts.

    Linda McMullen on April 13, 2020 @ 9:57 am

  5. Dear Mary,
    Your message reminded me of the walks my family took through the woods in Huntington Indiana at my aunt and uncles home. My Uncle, a biologist, would act as guide and point out things in the forest that I had never noticed or known. These very plants were ones I remember learning about as a young girl. They were a protected species. It’s so nice to hear your meaningful Easter experience. God comforts us in special ways.

    Cindy Swider on April 14, 2020 @ 6:20 pm

  6. Thank you, Cindy. What a coincidence that your uncle would have taught you about the little trillium! Yes, it is indeed a protected species plant. In fact, it is so fragile, it’s known as the one flower that should never be picked. Doing so seriously damages the plant. Enjoy its sweetness in its own natural setting!

    marywoolling on April 15, 2020 @ 9:17 am

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