Spring - Signs of Life

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. Ecclesiates 3:1 (KJV)

I love spring. Okay, I enjoy all the seasons and living in a state where all are visibly different, but isn't spring great! The warmer air, longer days, grills being put to use (yum), playing outside, sleeping with the windows open, and new life everywhere. Trees begin to turn green, flowers start popping up, and baby animals are in abundance to admire. There is something about spring that just seems to fill me with new energy, excitement, anticipation.

This spring is especially awe-filling for me as I feel like I am entering spring in my life as well. What, you say? You know, a new season. A season of life. Yes, I am preparing to give birth to our third child in a month, but that's not it. For the past two years, I have been going through a difficult and painful "season" and in the last week I feel as though I am moving forward again. I can't quite tell you what is different, what has changed, but I know it has. So I find myself filled with new energy, excitement, and anticipation for what God has planned in my life and in my family. So thankful to feel the hope, the life.

I have this rose tree that got badly damaged last year in a storm and I had to prune it way back. Then I ended up having to transplant it to another spot in the yard. I thought I might have lost it. There has been no obvious sign of life. I've babied it, fertilized it, gave it additional sources of nutrients, and nothing has happened. That is, until a a couple of weeks ago when lo and behold, life! Small green leaves were forming at the base of a branch. I performed my celebratory dance in full view of the neighbors and thanked God for preserving this special plant (Richie and Caleb gave it to me 5 years ago for Mother's Day).

This past Sunday as I was worshipping the Lord in church, I saw a picture of my rose tree and just began to cry as I felt like it was a representation of what I have been through and how I too am coming back to life. I have cried out to Jesus, I have clung to Him as He is my Hope and my God. But honestly, there have been more times than not that I have felt alone. That there has been silence. Perhaps this is when we really get to see what we're "made" of, when we either choose to press in, planting our feet, and clinging onto God, never giving up or we do stop, throw our arms up and give up.

There have been plenty of times that I have sat down in the middle of the road and wanted to give up. Times when I have been weary and discouraged, not turning to Him whose yoke is easy. Questioned and moaned. Thrown plenty of pity parties and tantrums. It has not been pretty. But, I always came back to the One thing I know to be true. He is God. He has a plan and purpose for my life-that's why this season occurred in the first place. He will never leave me nor forsake me. He loves me. He loves me. He. loves. me. He never gave up on me when there have been more than enough times in my life that He could have and probably should have. He loves me as I am.

And He loves you that way too. No matter what you are going through, no matter what you have done, He loves you and has a special place in His family for you. His Word promises in Romans 8:28-29, that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. It is for our good that we become conformed to the image of Christ. Keep pressing on, clinging to Him, believing. Spring will come and hopefully, we'll look a little bit more like Him!