Spring

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.
 The fig tree forms its early fruit;
   the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. 

                                                           ~ Song of Solomon 2:11-13

I am thrilled that April's here, it's my favorite month. 

The short, dark days of winter (yes we have them even in Florida) hover like gray clouds sometimes, and I feel like it requires so much energy to keep my perspective positive.

Of course, there are things I enjoy about winter--a cozy fire, the freshness of the crisp (non-humid!) air, and, certainly, all things pumpkin.

But when Spring comes and the grass becomes green again, when the trees and flowers and bushes start to bloom, there's an force outside of myself that lifts my spirits.  I don't have to stir up that energy or give myself some sort of pep talk. Simply viewing what encompasses me does the trick, and it's so, so nice to rest in that and let myself be carried by the beauty.

Interestingly enough though, at times I am aware that I still hold the winter inside me and I seem to resist the budding life in my world.  I'm not sure why that is. Maybe I've just gotten used to my winter habits and I'm slower to shed them when Spring enters the scene. Maybe the winter heaviness has become familiar and all the newness around me makes me feel a little insecure for a moment or two.

The truth is, though, I do want to be pulled out of my doldrums. I honestly can't resist the call of the pink and white crepe myrtles blooming along the highway and the lake outside my window reflecting the beautiful blue sky, or the long, lazy shadows falling across my porch when the sun is still low at 6:30 p.m.

I can tell I'm ready. Ready to let things be renewed, ready to fall into the hopeful promise of brighter days.

Hooray! It's Spring at last!

Kay


Photo By Exsodus/FreeDigitalPhotos.net