“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"... "It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Spring is just around the corner. What a great time to make a fresh start at life!
A fresh start…kind of like the rains moving and the sun shining to make things fresh and clean or the sprout of a new flower from the melting snow.
This truth also reminds me of a verse in Song of Solomon 2:11-12.
“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” Song of Solomon 2:11-12
This past season has had its challenges, and sometimes winter can appear to be a season when many things have lost their life, but spring provides a pathway to new possibilities. The transition from one year to the next, feels like there has hardly been enough time to pause and catch your breath. Sometimes, after being in such a busy season, the mere mention of taking a few moments to simply rest feels daunting.
Is there even enough time to just sit and be still before the Lord?
Spring is a time to begin anew in spending time with God, even in noticing His fingerprints--in the budding of leaves on trees, daffodils, iris's, tulips. Warmer weather. Baby animals abounding. All sorts of visible signs of His art. Be sure to notice them in front of your children.
There are always going to be people and circumstances that are vying for your attention, and seeking to suck the life out of you.
Spring is a time to make new goals, time to cultivate life and time to refresh your heart and soul even as the earth is renewed.
Despite how overwhelmed you may feel, time in His presence is not only possible, it is important. You don’t have to strive for it. As a precious daughter of the King, you have full access to His presence. The key to resting is simply being still and knowing that He is God and He is good. When you take the time to remember His kindness it is possible to remain calm amidst any storm or busy season.
In these next few weeks leading up to Easter I encourage you to
1. Take some time to remember what Jesus did for you and your family. Ponder the greatness of His sacrifice. He is no longer on the cross! He has risen! This means something. Personalize it for you and your family! You were purchased with a price and the value of something is measured by what it was worth. Jesus gave everything, His whole self. That makes you pretty valuable. Talk about something of great worth to your children and ask them what would be as valuable as giving a life away!
2. Read the Easter story aloud, one chapter each day, from each of the gospels and see if your family can pick out the differences in the telling.
3. Don’t miss out on what He did for you or forget to notice what He did at Easter. The Spirit of the living God is inside of you and His powerful resurrection life pouring through you. It is a stunning truth that we don't want to miss. Make an Easter tree and use construction paper to have your children decorate crosses or decorated eggs to hang on some branches from your own garden or pussy willows you can put in a vase. Punch a hole through each cross or egg and hang it on your Easter tree.
4.Pick flowers or purchase some lovely blooms and put them around your house.
5. Take time to have a spring day celebration--make a picnic of small, bite size sandwiches, fruit, cheese and enjoy outside or place a blanket in front of a window and have an inside picnic and look for the signs of spring.
As you celebrate the risen Lord this month with your family, spend time talking about Jesus' resurrection and His "aliveness" with your children. Listen to them as they grapple with what that means and help them explore the beautiful, vibrant, ever-present life of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Blessings,
Sandra
My dear, lovely friend, Sandra Maddox, who started and leads a mom group with mentors called Treasured,
at Saddleback Church in California!
And all of her mamas do feel treasured.
Thanks, Sandra for inviting us to celebrate spring.
Today at MomHeart: September McCarthy gives us a peek into a special day with her family in, "Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk."