Lessons from the Dogwood Tree

Where I live, there are a lot of dogwood trees. I love to see these beautiful trees in full bloom in the spring. This year, I have noticed and been able to appreciate them more. These trees are unique in their flowering appearance, but their glory is short-lived. Their bloom may be admirable, but it lasts only about a month at most. In fact, the flowers on the dogwood tree pictured above have already diminished. Like all trees and leaves, the dogwoods come into view but fade away. They are born, but then they die.

The same is true of us. The Bible states this truth in Isaiah 40:6-7: “A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass.” Our lives are temporary. The flowers of the field are here one day, but they soon fade. We are here for a certain amount of time, and then our lives are over. The New Testament speaks to this idea as well. James 4:14 says, “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

Like the dogwood flowers, we come and we go. Our lives are short. But there is good news that we can learn from the dogwood flower.

The dogwood flower is significant because its shape resembles a cross. It has four petals of equal length that form this shape. Additionally, each flower petal has a small indention with a red tinge. Finally, a cluster of tiny, yellow flowers is in the center of the dogwood flower. 

The shape of the flower teaches us about the cross. It was on a cross that our Savior died. It was on a cross that the perfect Son of God took on the wrath of God the Father. And it was on a cross that Jesus shed His blood so that we can be forgiven of our sins. The cross-like shape of a dogwood flower contains red, but the cross of Calvary was also stained red because He secured our eternal redemption with His own blood (Hebrews 9:12). 

And the yellow flowers in the center? We will be glorified. Heaven is often symbolized with the color yellow, and because Jesus shed His blood on the cross, we have the promise that we will be with God and be perfected in His eternal home. 

Although our lives are temporary and fading like the flowers of springtime, we have hope because of the life Jesus offers. This spring, let us remember that although our lives here are temporary, God abides forever. He always has been and always will be, and if we trust in His Son, we can know Him and be with Him. Thanks be to God for sending His Son to shed His precious blood on the cross so that we can be with Him one day and know Him personally today.