Daffodils and Virtue

I have never been a huge fan of daffodils until this year. I'm not exactly sure why I never really cared about them before. I think it was because I was always waiting for the bulbs that would follow...tulips. I LOVE tulips!!! So daffodils were just a reminder of my favorite flower and that was the extent of my appreciation for them. I first really noticed them a couple of weeks ago. The thought that came to my head was "wow, the daffodils are coming up really early this year." But then as I noticed them more and more each time I drove, ran, or biked in and out of our neighborhood, I had some different thoughts come to my mind. One day as I was driving out I couldn't help but notice the stark difference between the gray cloudy sky, lifeless barren trees, and dead dry grass compared to the vibrant golden yellow color of the daffodils. It was beautiful. So I pulled over and tried to capture it with my phone. As I was taking pictures, I was thinking about how these bright and beautiful daffodils standing tall and confident in the bleak and dark world around them was so very symbolic. I can't believe that I have never seen the symbolism before. The first thing that I noticed was their golden color... the color of virtue. The more I have come to understand what virtue means, the more I yearn to be more virtuous; to be cleaner and purer in my thoughts, actions, motives, and behavior. As a young women leader and a mother of four girls, I feel an even greater urgency and desire to make a stand for virtue. About a month ago, I invited the laurels to all come over on a Friday night for a movie night (Cory was out of town). I pulled out all my chick flicks and let the girls choose one. They chose The Wedding Planner....one of my favorites. As we watched the movie, a certain inappropriate part came on. I was mortified and totally embarrassed that I had forgotten about that part of the movie. I tried to talk over the movie and distract the girls until it was over. After the girls left that night, I was absolutely sick inside. Why did I not watch the movie beforehand? Why didn't I just turn it off? I felt HORRIBLE!! I got on my knees and pled for forgiveness. The next day at church I asked the girls for their forgiveness as well. I just felt so sick inside. How can I sit and teach them about virtue and then turn around and watch something that teaches something else? Then at the same time, why would I be okay with watching that when I am all alone? I have a long ways to go. But, I am determined to do and be better. The darker and more morally polluted the world becomes, the easier it is to just adjust our eyes to the darkness and blend in. It's easier to just sit through the inappropriate part of a movie instead of walking out, or just turning your head at an immoral and basically pornographic magazine at the check out aisle instead of picking it up and turning it around, or asking the manager to remove it. As a 16 year old girl, I remember being on a date with a guy from my stake to watch Austin Powers in the movie theatre. I hated it. I have always hated crude humor and I was totally uncomfortable. But, instead of walking out and risk offending him (since he had paid for my ticket), I decided instead to just sing hymns in my head. It made me feel more comfortable, but think of the greater impact it would've had on me, and those whom I was with, if I had just walked out. We must be bold. We must stand for virtue and righteousness because that is what we, as baptized members of Christ's church, have covenanted to do. The winter of the world is cold. The winds are fierce and the nights are long. But spring will come. Hope lies in those beautiful bright daffodils as they rise up in their glory and power to stand and bear witness of He who is the gardener.