My first memory of daylilies is of a clump of tiger lilies, also known as the orange daylily, which grew in my neighbor’s field. The clump received no care other than what the grass and weeds did, yet it flourished and bloomed every year. Have you noticed how gloriously beautiful daylilies are, even though they only last one day? I’ve heard some master gardeners dismiss them as too easy and common for their tastes. Yet, it is, in part, their easiness and commonness which can speak so deeply to our hearts.
You have probably heard these words from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:
“And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
Matthew 6:28-30
God not only cares for our daily bread, i.e., the most basic of needs, but he also clothes us in beauty. Not even Solomon, the wealthiest king in Israel’s history, had clothes as fine as the flowers of the fields, the flowers in your own gardens. The daylily, itself, reminds me of a fairy tale in which a wealthy king wears sumptuous clothing each day, never wearing the same outfit more than once. The glorious clothing of the daylily is astonishing. Every day it is rich with textures, color combinations and delicacy. All this for a flower which lives only a day!
It is God who does the caring for the wildflowers not us. An amateur gardener can be every bit as successful at growing daylilies as the master gardener. God truly cares for the needs, the wants, the truest flourishing of his people. “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?”
Do Not Worry About Tomorrow
If you read but a little bit further in the sixth chapter of Matthew, you will come across what has become a favorite verse of mine: “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Mt 6:34) I have found so much hope in this verse during these past years. Now, I love to flip his message around: Today’s grace is enough for today! God has always been faithful, and he always will be.
Jesus’ words not to worry are almost humorous. It’s like a gentle admonition that we can’t face all the bad things that will ever happen, or ever might happen, in one day. We can’t. In his gentleness, he has just reminded us of God’s generous care and provision for us. Now he gives us the simple direction: “Do not worry about tomorrow.”
As I took his words to heart when my heart and mind began to race with fear—worries and fear about my family, all people and whatever evil may come upon us—I remembered God’s faithfulness to me. I remembered the testimony of his faithfulness from the Song of Miriam to song of those in heaven who “sing the song of Moses”:
“You have led in your merciful love the people whom you have redeemed, you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.” (Rev 15:3 and Ex 15:13)
Daylilies: A Reminder of a Mercy Renewed Every Morning
Now, instead of merely shutting off worry in my mind, I try to recall the Goodness of God. I remember his faithfulness to me. I pray psalms of praise and of trust. I ask the Lord to help me remember that the Light of his Face is always gazing down upon me. That there is Nowhere I may go where I will be separated from his love!
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? …For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, or anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8: 35-39
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
And to this testifies the daylily. Every day it is beautiful. Every day it is new. The daylily speaks powerfully of the generosity and goodness of God. He is generous to the point of being profligate, that is, so generous that it seems wasteful. Every day he creates glorious lilies even though they will last only that one day. His goodness to us is profligate.
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