When the green fades


I sat down yesterday to watercolor a few of the fall leaves I’d pressed.

 
As I studied the orange, red, and yellow of the leaves, I noticed some of the veins were still green.

If you remember your elementary science class, trees produce chlorophyll during the growing season, which in the conversion of sunlight makes the leaves green. However, when days grow shorter, chlorophyll diminishes, and the vibrant reds and yellows appear, sometimes leaving green veins. The colors had been there all along, but the green covers them.

Emphasis on “the colors had been there all along.”

When the light diminishes, sometimes, the beauty really bursts forth. In the leaves. In our lives.

If you find yourself in a place of receding light, look for the vibrancy of God’s grace. He’s been there all along, but watch for the ways He shines when the green fades and shadows fall. You'll find fresh strength as you notice how He manifests himself in the most glorious ways.

“My grace is enough; it’s all you need” (2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message).