Spring is by far my favorite time of year. Grass starts to green, wildflowers bloom, trees bud. It is a time of freshness, a time to witness God’s creativity and beauty firsthand, a time to be inspired.
I am not a plant person. As much as I love them, I am terrible about tending them. My knowledge base is extremely limited to start with and with my consuming schedule of writing, working, and tending the more important young shoots in my life (my children), there is true danger of neglect for any living thing in my vicinity.
Over the years I’ve found a few hearty varieties that can survive my sporadic care. I have two beds of knock-out roses, some potted geraniums, and potted aloe vera that all survived not only the summer last year, but made it through the winter as well. (I actually remembered to bring the geraniums inside before the first freeze. Score!)
But every once in a while a true miracle occurs, and this spring I have witnessed just such a feat. Last year I bought a lovely yellow lily to plant in a pot by my front door. It bloomed once, cheerful and bright, then faded and slowly withered away to nothing more than a sad brown drooping stem. I was disappointed but not surprised. Such is the usual pattern of growing things at the Witemeyer house. Eventually I broke off the ugly dead area then ignored the pot. No water. No love. Just dirt. So it sat all through the summer. All through the winter. I started thinking about buying some geraniums to fill it since I’d managed to keep those alive from last year.
Then I walked out onto the front porch last week and witnessed my spring miracle. In that dry, neglected soil, God had instilled new life. And not only a resurrection of the original single plant, but a multiplication of blessings. Amazing!
I couldn’t help but be reminded of the new life he gives to me. Not only on the day I was baptized and committed myself to following Jesus, but over and over since then. When apathy or discouragement dries my soil and leaves me feeling like I have nothing left to give, he proves that nothing is beyond his power. From somewhere deep in my soul he finds a bulb of faith to resurrect, and like a spring shoot, I start to grow once again.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
D.C. might have cherry blossoms, but Texas has redbuds. The magenta buds on these little trees are one of the first signs of spring in Texas, and their glorious color always leaves me in awe.
I feel this call particularly strongly as a writer of Christian fiction. God has given me the message of reconciliation. A message of hope. Of relationship. A message that while masked in a package of entertaining stories, with God’s power at work, can resurrect dormant or flagging faith and bring it into glorious bloom so that it might bring joy and nourishment to others. That is my prayer, that as God continually renews my faith, the words I write will provide an avenue for him to renew the faith of others.
Depending on what part of the country (or world) you live in, you might not have much evidence of spring showing in your area just yet, but what are you most looking forward to seeing as winter gives way to the season of new life?
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Loved this! I love spring, too. Did you notice Easter is in Spring! New Life in Christ!!! Praise th Lord!
That’s right! Perfect, Paula. 🙂
Love your post,Karen. We had lovely spring weather in February then back to snow this week! But that means we’ll get two springs this year! Wonderful!
That’s the perfect attitude, Lynn. Love it! I hope your plants won’t be affected by the late freeze.
I’m like you Karen. I like the blossoms and flowers of Spring. My favorite among them is the lilac blossoms and the beautiful scent of them. Another is the tulip. The the daffodils. Then I enjoy getting out to pot some arrangements for the summer.
Last year we moved from our home we had lived in for 33 years. We have downsized to a 2 bedroom apartment in a senior citizens community. I shall miss my lilac bushes and my Irises and my day lilies. But I do enjoy my posted and hanging plants I can have here.
I’m glad you still find ways to surround yourself with beautiful blooms, Shirley. My in-laws live next door to us, and they have always had a beautiful yard. As they get up in age, it gets harder and harder for them to get out and tend the plants, but they still do it because they love it. They even help some with my pitiful offerings. Ha!
Such an inspiring post! And so true. Praise be to God that He really does make all things new. Your lily. Our hope and perseverance and faith.
Happy spring in Texas to you, Karen!
Thanks, Becky! Happy Texas spring to you, too. God’s grace is a constant miracle that never ceases to amaze me.
Now me, I love all the flowers and trees budding out but I have been called weird LOL I love to see the grass grow! I love to mow grass and to have a well manicured lawn ! Just adds to the beauty of it all!!!
We live close to a golf course, and I always admire their manicured areas. We get the boys to mow our yard, and they get the job done, but I wouldn’t exactly call it manicured. Ha! I bet you have one of those yards that is the envy of the neighborhood. Thanks, Fraulein.
Loved your post Karen! (Now I know I’m not the only one who doesn’t have a :green thumb around flowering plants 🙂 ) I’ve always loved how Easter and Spring are together in the same season. I think God meant for us to think of it as a spiritual resurrection as well as a renewal of the gifts of nature he has blessed us with. Along with the special feeling this time of year gives me I love to see the birds come back ,the buds come out on trees ,and the shoots of plants reappear. Hope you have a wonderful spring Karen as well as a very blessed Easter !!
Amen, Lynne! I couldn’t agree more. Love that idea of resurrection and new life. it inspires such hope and promise. May you have a lovely Easter as well.
Very encouraging post! Needed this reminder & I love the Bible verse (2 Corinthians 5:17-20).
Your stories always have the perfect blend of entertaining mixed with God’s message of hope & reconciliation! Love your books! Can’t wait for your newest book in June! Keep up the wonderful & inspiring writing, Ms. Witemeyer! Happy Spring!!
Blessings,
Emilee
Thanks, Emilee. So glad that verse spoke to you, too. It’s always been a blessing to me and a good reminder about what I need to be about.
Have a lovely Spring!
I love springtime when all the plants start resurrecting and peep through the ground. I have a lot of Asiatic lilies in all different colors. They are some of my favorite flowers. Another one I’m loving more all the time is perennial garden phlox. They come in so many gorgeous varieties and colors and the blooms last quite a while. I have a magenta one that is so gorgeous.
Thanks for the thoughtful post!
Ooo – Magenta. I love those deep colors. There are some ladies at church that have deep purple irises. So gorgeous!
We live in East Texas so Spring brings a beautiful array of color. This year our February was warm so we’ve already enjoyed azaleas, wisterias, redbud trees and now dogwoods.
In my small town we have The Redbud Festival on the second Saturday in March. Last weekend we enjoyed the festival, complete with a parade, booths with crafts and food for sale and the Miss Buna pageant. The most important thing about our festival, though, is we welcome Spring with open arms as well as visitors to our town. And we renew old friendships when folks come back home to celebrate!