The Lily Of The Valley

Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "The Lily Of The Valley"1 (Lyrics)

Until we moved to Canada, my dad was a rose grower. When he built his first greenhouse in the early 1930s, he supplemented his income by growing a fair-sized plot of Lilies of the Valley. They were easy to grow outside and bloomed early. I have a picture of myself as a one-year-old, more or less, sitting in the midst of them. The flowers were and are still being used in weddings and religious ceremonies, so I read. They symbolize purity and happiness.

The scientific name is Convalaria majalis, and it is a perennial plant that often forms extensive colonies by spreading underground stems. New upright shoots are formed each summer. In the spring, these grow into new leafy shoots that still remain connected to other shoots underground. The stems grow to 10 to 25 centimetres (4 to 10 inches) and have five to fifteen flowers on each stem.

We have some in the flowerbed behind our house. However, we did not plant them. They came over from the neighbour's garden behind us. They were abundant in Israel of old, and Jesus refers to them when He counsels us not to worry:

Luke 12:27 – Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (NKJV)

In our garden, we see that we don't have to do anything to keep them, and yet every spring, they show up and bloom again, and their little white flowers are beautiful indeed. As a matter of fact, there are more all the time.

Jesus is often referred to as the "Lily of the Valley", based on this verse:

Song of Solomon 2:1 – I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (NKJV)

Charles W. Fry (1838-1882) wrote a beautiful hymn based on this passage:

    I've found a friend in Jesus, He's everything to me,
    He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
    The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
    All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
    In sorrow He's my comfort, in trouble He's my stay;
    He tells me every care on Him to roll.
    He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
    He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

The lilies, in all their beauty, show up after a long winter. When we go through spiritual winters in our lives — periods of physical or psychological difficulty, or when we are bogged down by the cares and worries of this world — then we are assured that Jesus is there for us always, and faith in Him will bring happiness in our lives. We do not need to worry.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for the beauty of nature in all its forms and shapes, which reminds us of Your care for us. Most of all, we thank You for Jesus our Lord, and we offer this prayer in His name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    A good word, Joel.


    Beautiful. Thanks Joel. God’s blessings.


    Thanks for a good word today Joel. Enjoy your week.
    Blessings.


    Thank you, Joel. We, too, have lily of the valley growing in our garden. It was a gift from a friend. Blessings and stay safe.


    Hi Joel and Gretta,
    I liked that one.
    Shalom.


    Hello
    Thank you for this devotional. It was reassuring and informative. I didn’t realize some things about the Lily of the Valley.


    Thanks Joel. I didn’t know our Lily of the valley was the lilies Jesus referred to. I thought perhaps they were more like our day lilies. I was perhaps in Israel the wrong time of year to see lilies growing in the wild.


    Thank you, Joel, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. We had a side yard filled with these prolific flowers back in the day. Loved their scent and the tiny flowers. Being sturdy even if they seemed delicate, they required little care except to keep them contained. Blessings.


    The scent of these lilies stayed with me as I read your devotional – an unmistakable perfume, unlike any other. Especially grateful today for the simplicity of your words and their promise as we head into these uncertain times ahead. And the words of that great old hymn! Thank you.


    Joel: through your devotionals, I have followed your career as an engineer and as pulpit supply, and Bible study leader in long-term care facilities. Now I picture you as the toddler sitting amidst the lilies of the valley. Thank you for words that bring Christ always to the forefront.


    Thanks Joel, I had forgotten this connection in the Bible and will think about it when I look at our beautiful Lily of the Valley and Roses. I always think there is something really special about them as they grow in such abundance after a long winter. Great reminder that Jesus is always with us!


    Hi Joel,
    Thanks for the beautiful devotion. I lived in Canada for 20 years and now live in Florida. I miss the lily of the valley plants in my former neighbor’s yard. The smell was amazing!
    What a beautiful reminder of God’s providence.
    Blessings on your day.


    Dear Joel,
    Lily of the Valley was my mom’s favourite scent – soap, powder whatever we could find to give her. Every spring when they pop up, I bring some inside which brings back great memories. I loved your devotional on how it ties in with Jesus. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. May you celebrate Canada tomorrow remembering your father who brought you to this great land.


    Joel, I so enjoyed your Devotional today. It reminded me of my grandfather’s home where I grew up. There were two huge flower beds at the front of the big farmhouse on either side of the front steps leading to a large front porch. I remember each spring sitting on that porch smelling the sweet smell of the Lily Of the Valley. Just this spring I was able to get two good size clumps to plant in my side flower bed. It will always make me think of growing up on the farm. Thank you so much for the reminder they are mentioned in the Bible. I did know that, and for the song you included in your Devotional.
    Thanks so much for your work writing for the PresbyCan Devotionals. I always feel blessed.
    Stay safe and God Bless.


    One of my favorite plants and at moment I don’t have one.
    Someday I will find somebody who will share and be reminded of the spiritual connection you have shared.


    Thank you for using your gifts of writing for His kingdom work. I wish this could go into some kind of material for younger children and school children to use as lights in their lives.

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