Racine/Sumner Center UMC,
Stewartville UMC Children’s Ministry Coordinator
Aw spring! Time to exhale for the season of warming weather and nature coming back to life is upon us. As flowers bloom and animals are born, we are reminded of the innocence and beauty that exist in this wonderful world we live in. There is nothing that puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart more than driving down the road and seeing the baby calves dotting the pastures of our countryside. Mothers grazing, calves either napping or frolicking and the beautiful green colors coming back for our senses to enjoy.
A wonderful reminder that we should be living a full life and leaving the old dead parts of our past behind us and start focusing on our present and future. What “dead parts” do you need to shed? Are there old habits, extended grudges, parts of your daily routine that you would like to wash away with the winter snow? Are you ready to venture into new prospects, changes in behaviors, thoughts and deeds? What change are you will to commit to this new season?
If there is one thing this pandemic has taught us, it is that maybe, just maybe, striving to fill every waking moment with work, chores, activities, and everything else under the sun is not the best way to live this one life we have been given. This past year we have had to slow down, learn to appreciate the space around us and find ways to exist without a constant stream of external entertainment. What have you learned from this COVID experience? Are there any new routines you will keep doing? Friends, there is always hope during the coldest, darkest winters of the coming of spring and a time for new life to move us forward.
And as we move forward this spring, I would like to share with you some beautiful words from the Bible. You see every spring my thoughts are filled with the amazing words of scripture that rings in my ears and give me that extra bounce in my step. I pray you enjoy them just as much as I do. Here are two of my favorite spring writings:
Deuteronomy 11:14 (NRSV) “14 then he[a] will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil;” and the Song of Solomon 2:11-12 (NRSV) “11 for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. 12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.”
May you find peace as you walk the spring paths with our Creator and Savior, Lord Jesus Christ and if you are lucky enough to successfully shed those “dead parts” along the way take time to be thankful for before you know it another season will be upon us.