Spring is absolutely my favorite season. As of right now, that is. For with each season, I find there is so much to enjoy from each of them. Yet spring is so full of variety. When we walk, I try to pick a color scheme and take shots of only one color. Today, it’s pink.

I’m reminded of a song most of us know. I’ll share a verse we may not sing as often:

Fair are the meadows; Fairer still the woodlands,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring.

Jesus is fairer; Jesus is purer,

Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

I found this beautiful hymn giving praise to Jesus Christ was written anonymously. It came from a Catholic Jesuit hymnbook dating back to 1662, yet the origin of the words are not given.

I am reading through the Bible this year, reading each day through both Old and New Testaments. Though I have done this numerous times, this time, I am struck by the flowing together of the Old and New Testaments. The theme runs through to the other. I just completed the third gospel, Luke, and it ended on such a beautiful note:

50 Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven (Luke 24:50-51 NLT).

That must have been quite a sight. I’ll bet the disciples were awed by the sight. Perhaps a little wistful and wishing for Him to stay with them.

My birthday is coming soon and yesterday, Jim came back from some errands and he asked me if I would mind an early birthday gift. Would I mind? Of course I didn’t. He brought out a plant. One I’d mentioned I loved and would like to have in our yard. My birth flower, the Lily of the Valley. Although it had no blooms, I know it will soon. Here’s what it will look like. That’s my hope. Just as those disciples when they saw Jesus taken into heaven, believed they would see Him again.

Sometimes I have a longing to see Jesus. Don’t you? A song rang through my mind as I contemplated where I would plant this lily.

He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

I pray He is that to you. If you don’t know Him, start by reading the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament. You’ll get a picture of Him from four different authors. Pay attention to what they say and how they perceive Him.

Until next week……take time to enjoy the flowers. Today, I might choose Lavender to photo. The lilac bush in my back yard is soon to bloom….