Spring Awaits!

Blossom by blossom the spring begins..

And time remembered is grief forgotten

And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,

And in green underwood and cover

Blossom by blossom the spring begins. ~Algernon Charles Swinburne

Mr Robin.

Yesterday morning I was shocked looking out my office window which faces our front lawn. The grass was filled with fat busy robins energetically pecking the ground. Normally, I see one or two robins, but this past late winter and early spring, I’ve seen more robins in flocks than ever before. I love robins. One paid me a visit nine years ago when I was deep in sorrow. He encouraged me with his daily visits at my powder room window.

Daffodils, Daphne…spring!

I am encouraged each day as I stroll through my flower beds and inspect what might be coming up. The daffodils are almost ready to bloom, the Daphne is full of fat buds, promising the glorious fragrance and soft lavender blossoms that fill my senses.

What if?

When driving home the other day, I asked Jim if he ever had “what if” thoughts. He said he did. “I often think about what it would be like if Carrie had lived,” I said, looking out the passenger window of our car. “I wonder if Erika (my daughter) and I would be as close if Carrie had lived and were part of our family here on earth? Yet, maybe all three of us would be close. I imagined three giggling females in the household, laughing at nothing, really, but totally understanding each other’s joy in laughter. It makes me sad, we won’t ever know.” I mused.

“But you’ll have heaven to catch up and laugh together. Time won’t be a factor any more,” he reminded me.

There will be a grand reunion…

He’s right, you know. In eternity, there will be no more time factors to keep us from listening. To learn from each other. And to laugh. I’m not ready to enter eternity just yet, but it’s fun thinking about the grand reunion I will have, meeting my little girl for the first time. For being reunited with my parents, grandparents, my two husbands, my best friend. I play those reunions in my mind sometimes.

Eternity awaits…

Yes, eternity awaits. But right now, spring is marching closer-in spite of snow–perhaps where you live. I’m encouraged by the change of seasons and especially spring.

Spring awaits….

Some of you are in your winter right now. Your winter of grief–your loved one is in eternity and you miss them very much. Some of you are facing a tough diagnosis and you’re scared you may not see another season. Some of you face a difficult job you don’t particularly enjoy, but it pays the rent and you have to stay. As you read this blog today, I pray you will be encouraged just a little by the glimpses of a changing season. I love what the prophet Isaiah says:

They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint. ~Isaiah 40:31

I pray you will wait for the Lord to renew your strength. He promises He will. Look for the robin. Look for a promising bud….that’s a sign spring awaits.