Photo Therapy for My Heart
by Elouise
Today I’m featuring several photos I love to look at. They calm and reassure my heart no matter what’s happening around or in me. I hope you enjoy them, too, and find some peace slipping into your heart today.
That’s a mature dawn redwood at the top. We’re in Longwood Gardens in their large-tree arboretum. It’s a scorching hot day. The tree’s inviting limbs offer rest in the shade. No entrance fee, no time limit, and no requirements except that I step into the shade. Into the relaxing and reassuring freedom of God’s care for me and, especially now, for my heart.
Here’s a tiny flower of the field in the Longwood Meadow Garden. Fragile, delicate, one-of-a-kind, like a snowflake. Here today, gone tomorrow. Yet known to God who delights in the beauty of this world. I can’t help thinking about human life, and the One who creates and understands our fragile mortal beauty best of all.
As a parent has compassion for his or her children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear God.
For God knows how we were made,
and remembers that we are dust.
As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.
But the steadfast love of God
is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear God….
Psalm 103:13-17a
Here I’m standing in a square pavilion that circles this magnificent eye of water. We’re in the oriental area of the Arboretum at Longwood Gardens. The sound is stunning. A steady flow of water wells up in the ‘pupil’ of the eye and gently cascades down into the pool.
The small dots around the edge are pennies–wishes tossed in by visitors. For me, this is one of the most calming sites in the gardens. Usually there aren’t many visitors here. The benches around the border invite meditation and relaxation, accompanied by the steady sound of water falling. That’s my back to the camera. I’m looking out at the stream that flows downhill from the eye of water before the water is recycled back to the top to overflow yet again.
Finally, one of my favorites. It isn’t spectacularly beautiful like many other Longwood Gardens photos. This is right next to a path, not hidden away in the woods. We’re near the meadow and the water ponds. This mama is doing what God wants to do for each of us. She’s taking her chicks under wings. Keeping them safe, warm, dry and calm. Just where my heart wants to be right now!
Thanks for coming along!
Elouise♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 3 February 2016
Photo credit: DAFraser, Longwood Gardens
Reblogged this on paddypicasso and commented:
a peaceful few moments, relax
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Thank you bwcarey. I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and thrilled you passed it along for others.
Elouise
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You can share pictures anytime. I can see why you called it therapy. Could stay here forever but life doesn’t stand still. Thanks for the reminders of God’s love, protection and faithfulness to us. God bless.
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You’re welcome, Ruth. It’s so good to see you here. Thanks for taking time to enjoy the photos and leave a comment.
Hugs, Elouise
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Thank you for this reminder to revisit the eye of water the next time I am at Longwood – I remember how enchanted I was when I saw it for the first time. It is, quite literally, mesmerizing! When I look at it, I am reminded of a conversation (in John 4) between Jesus and a woman beside a well…
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Isn’t is, though (mesmerizing)?! Almost hypnotic. I hope they’ve got it running next time we go. I think they’re redoing all the water pipes around the fountain garden, so the last time we went this was off, as was the waterfall beside the bell tower. It was eery without the sound of water flowing.
Elouise
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And for my heart 😉
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Blessings and peace-filled happiness to you, Morgan! 🙂
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Lovely pictures, embraced by beautiful thoughts. When I look at the tree, I see an old matriarch, gnarled and generous. 🙂
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Lovely comments, Fran! Thanks so much. 🙂
Elouise
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Such a nice post. All photos were just as you described – peaceful and well-worth a moment of reflection! The tree is magnificent!
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Thank you, Jessica! So happy you enjoyed them too. Thanks for commenting.
Elouise
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These are incredible.
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Thank you kindly, on behalf of my trusty photographer. 🙂
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amen
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nice 🙂
this is a Canadian goose! what she is doing over there?
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Would you believe this part of the Northeast is inundated every spring beneath loud, ever-present couples making sure they contribute as many babies as possible! Still, I love seeing them protecting their babies. 😊
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Excellent. It is true about breading…. The most expensive winter jacket is from Canadian Goose because the growing population they have high quality feather and even higher goose down , and above that I do love to see goose
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