Sweet Flowers Are Blooming In God's Sight

Sweet flowers are blooming in God's sight,

Created by His Word,

Beneath His heav'n of sunny light,

By spring's quick pulses stirred.


Through the sky blue depths the larks do sing:

Their music fills the air;

What is it makes their voice ring

With gladness everywhere?


It is the love of God I know,

His world with joy doth fill;

His birds that sing, His flowers that blow,

Each of them does His will.

Sweet Madonna Lilies in bloom always remind me
of the promise of Easter and Springtime.



If He is glad when small birds sing,

And flowers drink the dew,

Can I, His child, do anything

To bring Him service too?


I am not wise, nor great, nor strong,

But I His will may do;

May love and serve Him all day long,

Be innocent and true.


And if to birds and flowers His smile

Of love and joy be giv'n,

His child shall serve Him all the while,

And find that love is Heav'n.

The Annunciation 

(1887)

Art Institute of Chicago

George Hitchcock

(1850-1913)

American artist

Inspired by his many travels across Europe,

American artist George Hitchcock presents in this painting

 a unique and personalized rendition of the Annunciation. 

Mary, the young and virtuous Jewish woman from Nazareth

chosen by God to be the mother of the Messiah,

  is here depicted as a Dutch peasant girl

standing amid a field of beautiful white spring lilies.

 The Annunciation or Madonna Lily has long been a symbol of purity.

Traditionally the flower has been associated with the angel,

Gabriel, who heralded the announcement to Mary 

that she had found favor with the Most High God,

and had been chosen to be the mother of His Son.

 The humility of Mary's soul as the chaste handmaiden of the Lord 

 is captured within the serene expression on the girl's face, as if

 she seems to be contemplating the wonder of it all.

Her simple answer to the angel's announcement,

 "Let it be done to me according to Thy will"

would change the course of humanity and

world history forever.



"Sweet Flowers Are Blooming In God's Sight"
Matilda Boyle Davis Stevenson
(1838-1934)
English-born Canadian poetess