One thing that stood out to me in this passage was the unconditional belief that God has a plan for each and every one of us. Even through seemingly-perpetual struggling, through all of the ups and downs, God will always be looking out for his people. Perhaps nothing symbolized this more than the metaphor of the bride with her jewels. When we picture someone on their wedding, usually they are enjoying one of the best days of their life; God's love can also create a similar feeling when we put our faith in his ability to guide us through life.
Another metaphor that I liked was that of plants springing up in a garden, which I at first thought of as God's people - the plants - springing up on the earth - God's garden. Yet upon further looking, I also found that this could be applied on a smaller scale as different aspects of a person shooting up to express themselves. Maybe these could be doing a good deed, giving time to charity, or simply going to church on Sunday. It would be foolish to think that we act in God's ways 100% of the time, and God is able to forgive us every time. This only makes performing those good deeds so much more rewarding, so I challenge myself and all who may read this to try and do a good deed and make God happy during this holiday season.
- Dominic Miller