Happy Mother's Day - Consider the Lilies

Here is one of the lilies that I was surprised to see come up in the yard. I was not expecting it because of the winter. Really it is a Belladonna Lily (or Amaryllis), not a true lily. Amaryllis is in the genus Amaryllis; true lilies are in the genus Lilium.

Speaking of lilies, I'm sure my wife will like this post, that reminds me of a couple of scriptures. The many scriptural references may be why lilies are so popular as gifts, but then again that is just a guess.

Here is one in Matthew 28:26-34.
  26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
  27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
  28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
  30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
  31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
  32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
  33 But seek ye first the ckingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
  34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Here is a similar passage in Luke 27:24-31.
 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
  25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
  26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
  27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
  28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
  29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
  30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
  31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

And another in 3 Nephi 28:26-34.
 26 Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
  27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
  28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;
  29 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.
  30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.
  31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
  32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
  33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
  34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.

Here is another a in Doctrine and Covenants 82:81-88.
81 Therefore, take ye no athought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed.
  82 For, consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin; and the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these.
  83 For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things.
  84 Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself.
  85 Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.
  86 Therefore, let no man among you, for this commandment is unto all the faithful who are called of God in the church unto the ministry, from this hour take purse or scrip, that goeth forth to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom.
  87 Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds, and to teach them of a judgment which is to come.
  88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

Article of Faith 1:13
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

This also reminds me of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir song titled Consider the Lilies.

I like flowers in the garden and around the property because of the beneficial insects that are attracted to the flowers and help reduce pest populations. I have noticed that Apple Mint and probably other mints attract a lot of small beneficial insects. I think I'll plant a mint bed next year: Spearmint, Peppermint, and Apple Mint.