The Change of Seasons

 By: Joanne Viola

 The tree sits on our boundary line. We didn’t even know it was there until our neighbor began moving our stone wall. Suddenly, the little tree had our full attention.

It was small, frail looking if I had to describe it. I had my doubts if it was even a tree. It’s smallness tugged at my heart and I desired to “save” it, protect it, so as to see how it would grow.

It’s been several years now and the tree still demands my focus. Each time I go in and out of our driveway, my eyes are drawn to look in its direction and smile at its growth, for it’s growth has been steady and beautiful.

Winter. The dictionary defines it as “the cold season” and “cold weather”. But it’s more than this …

Winter. Just saying the word makes a whistling sound, much like the sound of the wind blowing through the trees in our woods.

Winter speaks to me of bare trees, icy patches, cold temps, soft falling snow, and a stillness.

It may be my favorite season, truth be known. The darkness settles in earlier, inviting me to light a candle and get comfortable under a warm blanket. Warm tea often fills my insides as well as soups and stews.

Winter draws me into deeper thought as the snow falls and deepens at times. And winter draws me to the tree and I am amazed once again.

But spring has come …

The little tree is finally dropping  the last of its leaves it chose to hold onto all winter. There are signs spring has come as the small buds are beginning to show up, and they speak their message:

• We can hold onto the promises of God. The winter brought cold winds and some snow. Now the winds are gentler, the air holds the smells of spring. “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise” (Hebrews 10:23, NLT). Through the harsher seasons, or difficulties in life, we can hold on because God is faithful to His promises. Hard seasons, much like winter, do not last forever. Seasons change, and so do our circumstances.
• Spring will bring new life. As the winter moves on there is new life coming forth as the trunk comes to life after its dormant rest. “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begin! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland” (Isaiah 43:19, NLT).

In the cold and dark of winter, God’s promises and love breaks through, warming our hearts. We need not let the harshness harden our hearts, much the way the deep freeze ices and hardens the earth.

In the middle of winter, even when it is coldest, the sun kept shining, reminding us these days will pass.

In the dead of winter, when all was asleep, God was ever at work and He was making all things new again. When all was dark and bleak, He caused the sun to shine, bringing warmth, growth, and the birth of a new season – spring.

He reminds us to hold onto His promises,
for spring has come!

 

* This is an edited post which first appeared HERE.

Photo by Christopher Paul High on Unsplash