First Plum Blossom and Tu B`Shevat

 

Come, my beloved ...Let us go early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has flowered, If its blossoms have opened, If the pomegranates are in bloom.   There I will give my love to you.        Song of Songs 7:12~13

 

The first plum blossom opened in the park next to where we live.  I am amazed how in Japan the plum trees correspond to Tu B Shevat, and then the Cherry Blossoms open at or just around Nisan 1 !  It has been my recent discoveries in Japan over the past few years how the seasons here with the blossoms so truly reflect the Glory of HaShem!!

This year I didn`t know...well, wait, that is not so...

I knew that despite the `lockdown` even on trees, that I would be able to see the first blossom of the plum tree.

I knew because God is faithful and He knows my heart.

Every year since I found out about the holiday of Tu B`Shevat, the New Year for Trees in Israel, God has been encouraging me to delve into His word about fruit and fruitfulness, and He has been sending forth the fruits from Israel, as I have often talked about on this blog !!

He also has showed me how the first blossoming of the Plum tree in Japan comes about just the time of Tu B`Shevat, which is the 15th day of the month of Shevat on His biblical calendar.  Why Biblical calendar? It is the calendar that He established with the Children of Israel when He set them free from the bondage of Pharoah and gave them the first month of Nisan.

Something else we can see about Tu B`Shevat, since it is the 10th month, is that we can begin to `prepare` for the Springtime and the spring Feasts of the LORD.  As the sap is beginning to come up into the trees that have been seemingly `dead` in the cold winter, we too begin to come into new excitement for the promised spring and the hope in the new season that we too will have a time of `resurrection` as the winter gives way to a new blossoming in us as well.    The springtime speaks of resurrection.  And so perfectly did God plan the death and resurrection of Messiah to be fulfilled in this very season of spring.  We can see it manifest in the creation magnificently when the fruit trees blossom , and then bear fruit!!

So back to my plum tree and the lockdown!!

Its a sweet story because this plum tree that I have been watching in this time of year is now in `shutdown`! Really, even the trees! We can`t access the park because it is closed off as they have a temporary location there now for testing, so there is a gate and its guarded.  But I have been asking the guard when I pass by, can I go in to see if the plum tree has blossomed?  And he started to get to know me, and usually he says no.  Then the other day he seemed to understand me and my heart to see the tree,   and just said `its too early, its not blossomed yet`.  Then yesterday, I passed by and he asked me, `do you want to see the tree? Ok, go ahead!`, (all in Japanese of course!) and he let me in!

And look (photo at top!)!! The first blossom!  I tell you, I got on my knees and cried.  And I made a blessing on the fruit tree (even though its before Nisan, it was just a prayer of thanks from my heart).

May it be a fruitful season for you and for us all and our families!

 

Much love,

 ♡

Shayndel