the promise of Spring’s Arrival

by Mindy McBride, Foster Parent Recruitment and Coordinator

As I sit at my desk and look out at my lilac bush with tiny green buds at the ends of the branches and the birds flying around the bird feeders. I can’t help but get a tinge of excitement and a sense of relief with the knowledge that warmer days are about to come.

Spring has that effect on me and so many others, but why?

Is it the promise of a transition from the winter gloom to days full of sun and flowers bringing us hope and joy? Spring (as a noun) is defined as the season after winter and before summer in which vegetation begins to appear. It is a season of growth and development.

We must remember one aspect of spring and that is we cannot get to it unless we go through winter.

Winter is characterized as the harshest season. A time of snowstorms, bitter coldness, and extended darkness. Winter is at times brutal and can be a difficult challenge to get through.

Spring is the light at the end of our winter tunnel. A lifeline that we can hold on to. Flowers budding, grass growing, birds chirping about…..it breathes new life into us.

I wonder though, would spring be so sweet if we did not go through the harshness of winter?

Recently I have been going through a winter season in my life. A season where I often find myself asking “What is the purpose of this?”, “Why me?”, and “Will I ever get through this?”. But as I sit here gazing upon the beauty of spring, I realize that what I need to focus on is exactly what I see Mother Nature doing right now. We all have gone through the struggle (even soulcrushing experiences) of the winter months only to be brought into the growth and beauty of spring on the other side.

I believe there is a purpose for everything, even going through the challenging seasons of life. Because once we have gone through them, we are provided with a newfound appreciation for the peace that is to follow!

So, as we pass through seasons of struggle, we can watch the spring season unfold before us and let it remind us that no matter what we were struggling or being challenged with, we will eventually arrive at a season full of renewal, beauty, and reward.