“The wind was furious… the Lake was rough… When we were in the woods beyond Gowbarrow park we saw a few daffodils close to the water side, we fancied that the lake had floated the seeds ashore & that the little colony had sprung up — But as we went along there were more & yet more & at last under the boughs of the trees, we saw that there was a long belt of them along the shore, about the breadth of a country turnpike road. I never saw daffodils so beautiful they grew among the mossy stones about & about them, some rested their heads upon these stones as on a pillow for weariness & the rest tossed & reeled & danced & seemed as if they verily laughed with the wind that blew upon them over the Lake, they looked so gay ever glancing ever changing. This wind blew directly over the lake to them. There was here & there a little knot & a few stragglers a few yards higher up but they were so few as not to disturb the simplicity & unity & life of that one busy highway… — Rain came, we were wet.” – Dorothy Wordsworth – Thursday 15th April 1802, The Grasmere Journals
This was the inspiration behind the most famous of her brother’s poems – ‘I wandered lonely as a cloud’ (aka ‘Daffodils‘). And what a picture it paints.
When I visited the Lake District one Spring and saw the carpets of bright yellow blooms for myself, in the very location that inspired the poem, I was blown away. Like Wordsworth, I couldn’t help but dance and feel the joy emanating from these flowers.
Daffodils are victorious…
Daffodils are such happy flowers bursting into the barren early spring landscape bringing joy, life and energy. I like to think of them as
blowing their glorious golden trumpets, praising God and welcoming the new
season with music as they dance in the breeze.
They remind me of Jericho. How Joshua and the Israelites marched around the city and on the seventh day, with roaring and trumpet blasts, they brought the walls tumbling down.
Victory!
And Jesus, the Lion of Judah, is coming back with a roar too. He has triumphed (Rev 5: 5). And…
“…When the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die… When this happens… Death is swallowed up in victory.” – 1 Cor 15:52-54
Daffodils bloom just as the sun is gaining strength, beating back the winter darkness with it’s light and warmth. A great reminder of all that’s to come when we put our hope in Christ.
Daffodils can be modest…
The daffodils in the Bible were not like those we’re used to today, but probably refer to the more diminutive Narcissus tazetta which blooms abundantly in Israel from November to January.
It’s likely the floral displays in Isaiah’s arid wastelands (Is 35:1-2) and Solomon’s garden sanctuary (Song of Songs 2:1-3) contained these more modest, delicate blooms.
They appear as bouquets of mini daffodils with several blossoms per stem and create drifts across the landscape with a light, welcoming scent that wafts about in the early spring air.
This presents a completely different character of God – less lion and more lamb if you like. When Elijah was hiding in a cave God didn’t speak to him in the strong wind, the earthquake or the fire but He came in a gentle whisper (1Ki 19:11-13). A bit like Wordsworth’s daffodils “fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”
But daffodils always remind us that God is in charge
Although very different in character, both types of daffodil are a great reminder of God’s characteristics. Like Him they’re:
- Everlasting: Daffodils are perennial (appear year after year) always blooming again the following spring. And they’re one of the first flowers to appear (from January in some parts of the UK). Like God, they’ll never leave you (e.g. Matt 28:20b, Ps 55:22, Josh 1:5, 9). His love for you is always present.
- Vigorous: Often daffodils return with more gusto than in previous years. And God is like that too. When you walk closely with Him, your relationship will grow stronger and you’ll flourish as you get to know Jesus more deeply.
- Unfussy: Daffodils are not to bothered where they bloom and can withstand the cold. They grow in most soils, in sun or part shade, and aren’t bothered by deer, rabbits or other pesky creatures. And God isn’t fussy either, welcoming everyone into His kingdom who wants to be there (Rom 15:7-9, Matt 25:35).
So next time you see “a host, of golden daffodils… fluttering and dancing in the breeze” think of our Lord Jesus who came to give you everlasting, triumphant life.
Do get out there and experience these delightful blooms. I pray you feel some daffodil joy this week.
God bless xx
P.S. For a laugh check out this Wordsworth rap 😁
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