EVERYTHING LOOKS BEAUTIFUL
Today is the first day of Spring. Now we are coming to our first full glimpse of what will turn into Spring for 2021.
If during the last few weeks you’ve been watching the daffodils in bloom, and if you’ve observed the crocus peaking out of the ground (as well as many other early-blooming fruit trees,) you already know what is happening; it all just becomes official this year on the 20th of March.
HAVE YOU BEEN WATCHING?
I would like to say that Spring has already arrived in our hearts, but with people battling the effects of corona virus all over the world; I don’t think we have paid enough attention to the coming arrival of our old friend Spring; who always lifts our hearts and gives us hope of new beginnings.
Have you been watching the news or the flowers blooming outside?
I highly recommend a good balance.
My front yard is full of Spring; coronavirus or not.
The tulip tree has budded, the plum tree is blooming and the daffodils have been spreading all through our neighborhood. Some forms of Iris have popped up and are making beautiful landscapes of our yards. My iris plants haven’t bloomed yet; but their green leaves have appeared as if to say “just wait until you see what we are going to do.”
Since the newness of a beautiful Spring is spreading through our land; let’s take a deep breath and try to turn a page and step together into some new and exciting things.
IS IT WRONG TO ANTICIPATE THAT SPRING WILL BRING HEALING?
Do I have my head buried in the sand?
Can’t I see that our nation continues to be divided and the virus rages on?
Have I lost my mind to suggest such a thing?
No; but my thoughts are that we must cope with this virus, endure and recover and move on.
Americans are a resilient people.
They are strong and wise and good.
We will survive, and again we will lift our heads and thrive.
AMERICA WILL SURVIVE THIS
Let’s stop, pause, drink in the fresh air; and look around to enjoy the newest scenery of our lives in our now very quiet communities.
Though many of our lives have been put on hold for a few weeks; there are other things that we benefit from because of this.
Our families have had some valuable down-time to spend together.
Now I’m not just preaching; suddenly, and out of necessity, our homes have TRULY become our Sanctuaries for worship.
This is the time to shine among your own people; those you love the most.
Be the inspiration to them.
Try your best to comfort and bring peace to those who mourn. They are hurting and any little thing could serve to bring them hope. Be that thing.
Help your family as they social distance to use these hours of time that have come to us unexpectedly as a special resting, learning, fellowship-at-home time.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BEGIN TO HEAL
Don’t you love the fresh breath of air that each spring brings to the earth?
For the first time in years, I’ve seen lots of de-stressed people walking through the neighborhood; looking at and observing all of the loveliness that Spring has blessed us with.
Typically people are darting around in their cars, hurrying off to school and to work; trying not to be late. They look anxious and stressed when I pass them while doing the same thing myself.
This week as you drive by you get an idea that a calm and a quiet has settled and you see children playing and laughing in their yards. There are father’s mowing their own grass instead of hiring landscapers, and mother’s making lemonade for the families working to clean up their yards for spring.
I hate how we came here; but I do love this new feeling that I get while driving through our neighborhoods; and it tells me that we have been all too busy, too dependent on material things, and too anxious to grow our bank accounts.
Today we have time for our real treasures, those that money can’t buy.
Something good comes from everything and the bonus is Spring’s arrival in the midst of all our troubles.
ARISE FOR THE SEASON OF SINGING HAS COME
I think of the verses from The Song of Solomon, Chapter 2; “My beloved calls to me, “Arise my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one”.
“For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in the countryside, the season of singing has come, and the cooing of the turtledoves is heard in our land.”
This is such a lovely invitation; as our Beloved sends out His Word and beacons us to enjoy the next season with Him.
PUT AWAY YOUR FEAR
Yes, be cautious, but do not be afraid.
Life always takes on a fresh new aspect with the changing of the seasons from winter to spring, even in the middle of chaos and emergency situations.
The appearance of the new season gives us a glimpse of the fact that life goes on and we are to be about living; not dying.
This is not to discount those who are suffering from this terrible illness. Now is a golden opportunity to be a valuable neighbor and family member. Show those who need love your compassion and care.
We should be praying for those who suffer with all of our hearts. There is plenty of time and no excuse for looking the other way.
Just because you must social distance, it doesn’t mean you can’t put flowers or a bag of groceries on your neighbor’s door step. When you are terrified and suffering; these little bits of comfort and love go a long way.
THE VIRUS DOESN’T AFFECT TELEPHONE LINES
If your neighbor is confined and not allowed to go out because of this unfortunate development; why not pick up the phone and call them and tell them you are thinking of them and praying for their recovery. Face-to-face isn’t a prayer requirement. Telephones work just as well as buildings where people gather.
Maybe you might offer to cut their grass while they are sick; or water their plants, or run errands for them and pick up things that you can just drop off and leave on their porch. They may need someone to bring them their mail. Just drop it at the door and ring the bell. Not difficult.
Is there an elderly person on your block or in your family that no one would be checking on?
Why not have some food delivered to their door with a card to tell them you are thinking of them and praying for their safety and wellness?
Do you have neighbors who won’t receive a paycheck because they are having to leave their jobs and take care of childcare unexpectedly? Celebrate spring by leaving an anonymous gift of cash in a card in their mailbox or in a place where they will notice in their doorway.
IT IS A GREAT TIME TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR
It would be a good time for those who are able to keep some gift cards handy for when they go to the supermarket. You are bound to see desperate people looking frantically for their next meals among the empty shelves. Decide who needs it the most and give those cards out as you do your own shopping.
Every blessing that you give will be multiplied back to you; even if it is only in the beauty of a smile from a face that had once been frowning or concerned.
Maybe you are very budgeted and you can’t do this and you are one of the people I’ve mentioned that needs some help. You are still capable of smiling and being kind. Receive with graciousness. Make it your goal.
IF YOU ARE QUARANTINED
I’m a firm believer that a positive attitude helps people to get well quicker.
If your family is quarantined with you, you can devote some of your down time to teaching your children the skills they need for living life; and a lot of the time that isn’t reading and writing and arithmetic, but planning skills and self-care skills like cooking and cleaning and doing laundry. Those who are well can help those who are sick by taking care of these tasks while they are quarantined because of association. Now is a good time to be teaching those things.
Do your children know your religious beliefs? What about your political feelings? Now is a good time to instill those conversations. Maybe there is some family history that they are not aware of that you will be able to make come alive for their heritage. You have the time you need. Talk. Pray. Eat. Live. Love. (Repeat.)
This is a perfect time for sharing stories, life-history, family traditions, things you don’t normally take the time out to slow down and talk about. If you are tired of puzzles and television, why not work on a family tree?
NOT A TIME FOR PANIC
Here in the South, the privet is blooming and the pollen is flowing heavily through the air. So, don’t panic when people cough or sneeze, it is just as likely to be spring allergies as the virus.
I love that I can look out and see that people are washing cars and dusting off their patio furniture and planting flowers in brightly colored pots.
Some places are carpeted with little pink petals and some walkways are lined with bright cheerful blooms that are popping their heads out to say “hello” to this new season.
It is as if God is saying; take cheer – tomorrow will come and in the meantime; here is some beauty for you to enjoy as you wait.
With the coming of spring one gets the feeling that everything about life can be fresh and new again. Isn’t it amazing that one little season can do this to our attitudes?
SEASONAL TRANSFORMATIONS OFTEN BRING PERSONAL TRANSFORMATIONS
I notice this transformation more in the springtime than any other season; maybe because of the observance of The Spring Holy Days and the remembering that we do at Passover that brings us a special sense of security and hope.
We can use this extra time to get ready for the times that are coming up.
Isn’t that the hope of every bride?
That they will be ready after the waiting is done?
Surely the Bride of Christ gets an extra dose of anticipation with each springtime’s glorious arrival.
The hope of Resurrection is in the air.
A TIME FOR PREPARATION AND PRAYER
This winter, like several before, has been hard for many. It has been full of political turmoil and critical national issues and changes. We’ve all been constantly bombarded with more and more of the never-ending tragic news, sometimes for days at a time.
Aren’t we all ready for a break from the constant bombardment of the negative facts of the ever-changing modern world and all of the harsh realities that sometimes go along with it?
This is the time to take a deep breath and pray for our leaders and our country.
Now is a good time to trust those whom God has put into place for our good. If they are not for us; we can also trust that God will handle that too.
Whether you are a fan of our President or not; he needs all of the support and prayers that we have to offer.
I didn’t vote for him; but I can surely pray for God to guide him.
We must be patient and trust for these things to come together.
AN OLD/NEW TYPE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
I’ve just spent a whole year studying social justice and writing about how it is being implemented in our country and culture today. This study has proven to me in a million ways that the constant quest for excellence and betterment of humanity depends on each individual person living and making contributions.
Every heart and every life matters.
If we all could learn to follow the golden rule to love our neighbor as ourselves; there would be no need for social justice movements.
Perhaps if we could all follow the ten commandments that God has clearly spelled out for us; we would find true justice among every group of modern society.
Those are two “ifs” that we could all be praying about. Ask God to open each and every heart to love and acceptance and kindness. Love and compassion should not have to come about through laws and regulations; let’s write them on our hearts and enforce them at home instead of through the government.
A SEASON OF HOPE
Spring seems to lift and erase the tragedies of humanity away.
It brings the hope of Messiah returning to set things right. We need that hope now more than ever. I think of His return every time I look at a dogwood tree in bloom.
With the coming of spring, everything around us seems to soften up a bit.
Harsh faces crinkle with laughter again.
Hard steel eyes light up and wrinkled old faces smile.
People’s attitudes perk up and sometimes even un-neighborly neighbors become friendly again.
Don’t you love how that happens?
How could anyone look at the changing landscape across America right now and frown for long?
Will they not see beyond the troubles and understand the loving hearts of the people?
An elected official is only one. We The People; are many. Let the many be the ones who listen and follow God.
REJOICING WILL COME AGAIN
How could anyone feel the warmer air blow across their face and not rejoice?
The beautiful spacious skies are now their bluest blues.
Sunshine and warmer temperatures will bring healing to our land.
Our amber fields of grain will turn to lovely shades of vivid greens.
Fresh produce will become more abundant and offset those empty grocery store shelves. It is a good time to learn how to grow your own garden in your own backyard, kitchen window or patio. At our house we can only use our back deck; but we are trying to start a container garden there. As grocery bills skyrocket; we may feel less pain because of the efforts we put in now when we have the time.
The Great Artist From Heaven has been busy!
Underneath the brown earth the little seeds are still alive and beginning to form useful food and beautiful plants to cheer us up.
Each spring brings its own unique form of loveliness.
Everything everywhere stands up and speaks of hope, from the pretty new flowers to the cheerful colors of the blossoming fruit trees.
There is a warm breeze blowing through the valleys and the mountain streams are full and flowing.
Now we understand why we needed all of that rain we received. It will help to issue in a good summer harvest.
LET’S LEARN TO DANCE AGAIN
So we have had a little down time.
We should not let that allow us to forget the dance-steps of living an abundant life. The heart is the well-spring and the hands and feet are the vehicles that we can use.
Springtime is taking away winter’s chill and getting all of us ready for more down-time and summer vacations. If we wait; travel will become safe once again and we will enjoy our adventures even more than before.
So come and dance into the newest season of Spring with The IN SEASON Lifestyle Community. Here we will be lifting grateful hands up to heaven in praise.
Come join in with us and find a community of thankfulness, love, hope and compassion. Lots of things are changing; but these things remain constant.
LET WINTER LEAVE US
This is not to make light of the tragedies. Some of us desperately need a fresh new blessing of hope and change after such a terrible time of survival.
There are many hard realities that must be bravely faced before we can move on; but let’s face them and begin again.
All of us are holding out for the hope that when Spring becomes official the world as we know it now will be renewed and refreshed and some of these bitter winter things will fade and become less evident.
Some will have a hard time recovering from the last of this winter. Our prayers are with them and our hearts go out to them. We pray together for healing.
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
If our community here is about anything; let our focus be on prayer.
With God all things are possible.
It is our hope that spring will bring comfort and help those who may need a smile through their tears.
So; let’s get some happy renewals going on; let’s step into this spring with renewed vigor and anticipation.
Let’s thank our Creator for all the beauty and warmth of the sun and let’s ponder the wonders of His Holy Seasons together.
Who else could do the impossible task of lifting our hearts up again?
Every spring brings new life and “life, life and more life” is the best reason of all to celebrate and rejoice.
How ironic that new life sometimes even comes to us in the tragedy of the death of our loved ones. It doesn’t at first glimpse seem fair; but on second glimpse; we know that the circle of life must continue and thrive for those who are left behind.
Those who have gone on would not wish us to continue in sadness and suffering.
LET US MOURN AND REMEMBER THOSE WE LEAVE BEHIND
One way to celebrate spring’s arrival is to stop and remember the things that we are most grateful for.
We will remember and be ever grateful for having held close those precious souls who have gone before us. Let’s mourn their passing and let’s be grateful for the time that we were able to borrow them from Heaven.
None of our hearts will ever forget their laughter, their smiles, their kindness and their love.
We are ever-grateful for our memories.
Can you not look back over those memories of other spring times in your life and think of things about those you have lost that always made you smile?
I hope so.
It is so comforting to know the things that always made us smile, and to remember those sweet times we shared life together.
Many of these precious memories from the past came to us with abundance in the times of spring. They are priceless and no one can steal them away from us. These things live inside our hearts, safe from the terrors of common humanity. They stay locked inside our treasure chest of good memories, and they can easily be recalled when times get tough and we have to wait on tomorrow.
Remembering the good of the past will help us stay strong in the future.
Personally; I have some wonderful memories of growing up on a farm and watching the season of spring come to cheer up the land at the end of every brown and bleak winter.
LOOK UP AND LIVE INTO YOUR DESTINY
No matter what the winter brought our way the spring seemed to be God’s way of saying to us “Look up child and find the destiny I still have for you.”
Spring on the farm was so busy!
Chicks were popping their little heads out of eggs, and birds were busy building their nests. Baby calves and foals were being born. The ground was being turned and prepared for fresh new crops with hopes for a bountiful harvesting season.
Most of all; I think I loved the feelings of anticipation that spring always brought back to us.
Farmers were once again hopeful and anticipating a good harvest.
Children were anticipating school ending; adults were anticipating nice long summer nights and sweet family gatherings and vacations.
The houses always got their spring cleanings; and everything seemed to take on a pure, clean, wholesome feeling of renewal in the days before Passover.
How I loved the “freshness” of it all!
A TIME FOR CLEANING UP
At the farm we didn’t throw things away when they were old and dingy; we simply polished them up again until they looked like new. We cleaned them up and made them useful for yet another busy year.
God will do that with all of us; come spring. I can feel it in the air.
Back then; there was always this great transformation continuously going on during every spring season.
Old things became transformed again. It was as if they were all changed into new things. All of a sudden you began to see these drastic changes taking place.
What seemed in disrepair and ruin began to be useful and purposeful again.
This happens in our lives too.
We take a beating sometimes; but we can be renewed and begin again and see new purposes accomplished if we just wait for the time of spring.
On that old farm, things would only happen in increments.
It was a fairly slow and steady process; one item at a time; but suddenly the renewal became so noticeable. The healing power of spring always came forth.
The people noticed, the animals noticed, and the land noticed.
They noticed the renewal of the life processes from God’s grace and saw that the impossible hope of spring had arrived again; just like clockwork; never too early; never too late, always right on time.
THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERYTHING
God’s timing is so different than ours.
We often do not know when and how to expect it.
Today The Great Timekeeper has wound his watch again and the miracle of spring has reappeared everywhere.
Everyone and everything seems to be watching and paying close attention with wide-open eyes and listening ears; as if they all were big grizzly bears who were finally coming out of a long winter hibernation.
Many are finally realizing that there is still so much more life to be living.
Yes; Spring has arrived!