Boat Lily (Moses-in-the-Cradle) | Psalm 46:1 Reflection
To me, March is when the year moves into full swing. The New Year and Chinese New Year celebrations are over and we are back to routine. Muscles are being worked and the excitement of fresh goals begins to meet resistance. What felt hopeful in January now calls for perseverance. March reminds us that we need strength to carry us forward.
The plant for this month is the Boat Lily, also known as Oyster Plant or Moses-in-the-Cradle (Tradescantia spathacea). I first noticed it while flipping through one of my go-to resources, 1001 Garden Plants in Singapore by NParks. Its name intrigued me, but it was the way its flowers grew that made me realise it was a special plant. Tiny white blooms emerge from deep purple, boat-shaped leaves like delicate treasures held in a cradle.
I tried to find it at the Botanic Gardens, remembering roughly where it had once been planted. But the displays had been updated and I could not locate it. In God’s kindness, a fellow member from my botanical art society who has since become a dear friend generously gifted me three pots of the plant. They were flowering beautifully and became the perfect live reference for this piece. I also learnt that the leaves can be used to soothe coughs, but the sap can irritate the skin. It is a plant that heals but must be handled with care.
The verse for March is:
“God is our refuge and strength
and ever-present help in trouble.”
— Psalm 46:1
This artwork was created during a season when I was facing a low emotional and spiritual time. I found myself quietly questioning why people do what they do. It was not dramatic but it felt heavy. When I studied the Boat Lily, I was struck by how its small, delicate flowers are protected within bold, structured leaves. Held and shielded. The name Moses-in-the-Cradle reminded me of how God preserved Moses’ life as a baby, hidden yet held securely. I realised that God was holding me close in the same way.
I could choose to be paralysed by fear and uncertainty, or I could move forward in His strength. March reminds me that perseverance does not come from striving harder. It comes from resting in the truth that God is our refuge, always present and faithful.
The next time you see a Boat Lily, may it remind you that even in heavy seasons you are being held by God.