Spring is here... with her promise of something beautiful

The seemingly dead branch I've been nurturing in my sunroom window for the past few weeks has started to bud.  It's a lilac, one of my springtime favorites, so I've been willing to brush off my husband's skeptical, "Why do we have a big stick in the window?" with a knowing, "You'll see." 

I'm always slightly amazed, and relieved, when spring makes her gentle return.  An unrelenting Wisconsin winter can really freeze the life out things - but, not quite.  Spring reminds us of that when she warmly wafts back with her promise of something softer, something beautiful.

The dead branch in my window wasn't dead at all.  It was just waiting for the right time to wake up again.  It was patiently waiting for the darkness to give way to a longer day; to bask in the attentive care of the sun. 

In spring, God proves his great timing.  After forty days of darkness, we, too, are eager to bask in the attentive care of the Son. 

This week especially, we know that we are not alone - even when life is cold and gray.  Jesus shares our winter in a way that is incredibly real and personal. And, like us, he has known spring. 

At Eastertime, his winter is over.  And so is ours. 

It's been a long, dark season. An unrelenting world can really freeze the life out of things - but, not quite.
Moreso than spring, Jesus reminds us of that when he lovingly comes back with his promise of something softer, something beautiful!