This time of year, our excitement is kindled by new life exploding all around us. The days grow longer as the sun’s light and warmth loosen winter’s cold grip on our lives. Flowers begin to show their dazzling colors; and leaves and grasses turn bright green in their awakening. Almost overnight it seems that the slumber of winter gives way to the clarion call of spring. We can see it on people’s faces. The sullen expressions of winter’s grey are replaced by the enthusiastic smiles of springtime’s cheer.
Spring is my favorite season. I love the onset of warmer weather. I love the influx of color and the return of the sweet sounds of the songbirds. It is a time of regeneration, and a time of renewing. Think about it. We till our gardens to prepare for new growth. We do spring cleaning to rejuvenate our homes. We head to the ‘great outdoors’ to revitalize our bodies. And in the midst of all that, our minds are refreshed as well.
It seems that the onus of wintertime can be like a cloud hanging over our heads. Even if we are fans of winter, by the end of March we are usually tired of the cold temperatures. For most of us (except the winter sports enthusiasts) the cold weather is uncomfortable. And for just about all of us, the short days tend to impede our ambitions. Who wants to go back outside in the cold and dark after you’ve hunkered down for the evening? But springtime changes all of that. We don’t mind being outside at night when it’s warm. In fact we look forward to the nighttime activities that spring ushers in. Some of my favorite memories are of campfires, fireworks and star gazing on summer nights.
Springtime is the happy transition from winter to summer. Not only is springtime beautiful, but its gradual warming also prepares us for the hot days that lay ahead. It would certainly be a shock to our systems if it were below 0° one day and above 90° the next! Spring and fall both afford mild temperatures to offset the extremes of summer and winter. Both seasons are enjoyable, but to me, spring is waking up and fall is preparing for sleep.
My husband saw a funny meme the other day that talked about the seasons in Florida. The list of seasons included a couple of “fake springs”. I laughed because we can all relate to the times when the weather started warming up and we thought, “yea, spring!”. But then it got cold again. That is fake spring! There can be multiple fake springs that just seem to taunt us. And a fake spring can end abruptly with the onset of “premature summer”.
Springtime offers us new beginnings. Although it happens every year (at relatively the same time), it seems to surprise and delight us with all its budding foliage and bright sunshine. It offers us a change of lifestyle from winter’s seclusion. It awakens our outlook for brighter days ahead.
It is only fitting that this time of year is also the time that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Talk about a new beginning! That was the pivotal point in history that changed everything forevermore. It was that occurrence that enabled us to become born again and gain eternal life. It was that occurrence that sealed the devil’s fate forever.
Just as springtime awakens growing things, the resurrection awakens new life in us. And just as spring supersedes winter, our new life supersedes our old one. Our new life is more beautiful than all the blossoms of spring, and more delightful than all of its sunshine. For all that the Lord’s resurrection gave us, we are thankful, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable.
Note to my readers: Enjoy the new birth of spring and the new birth of you! Thanks for reading!