🎋Hello Old Friend🎋… by JoAnn

A bunch of flowers that are in the grass.

For the past few weeks, I have read how many days are left until Spring each morning. Official Spring, that is. It’s fun to watch it getting closer and closer. Everyone else seems to be very excited as well.

Of course, all you have to do is look out the window and see for yourself that many of the things we consider Spring are already here. Daffodils are blooming everywhere. White ones, yellow ones, and deep orange ones are multiplying in perfect lines all over my neighborhood. I myself am anxious to see the Spring Tulips blooming. Those are my favorite, along with the blooming Dogwood trees.

Why is Spring such a welcomed thing to so many? I don’t know of any person I’ve met that didn’t love Spring. It’s like an old friend that we get to visit every year. We always welcome them with a warm embrace and joyful heart.

It could be the relief of knowing that winter’s bad weather is finally over. No more worrying about the weather forecast and the chance of snow, ice, or freezing temperatures. No more heating our homes, bringing our electric bills to new heights. The only thing we need to do to check for rain is look out the window and up at the sky. And even then, there is nothing to really worry about. The temperature is comfortable to wear whatever we want, and if we get a bit wet with a Spring shower, so what. We won’t freeze.

Spring is just a carefree time of year for everyone to relax and enjoy! I certainly plan to enjoy it this year. Maybe more than ever. I made a pledge to myself to intentionally enjoy Spring this year. Put all my cares behind and each day arise to enjoy the day. At least part of my day. I plan to make an effort to get outdoors every single day this Spring. Notice the flowers and trees blooming, and give thanks for all we are blessed with this time of year. Easter is indeed my favorite Christian holiday. This year it falls on April 9th. Not far away at all.

Our old friend won’t be here for long, and soon his angry replacement Summer will arrive. Gone will be the cool breezes spreading seed and pollen, making everything grow anew. Hot, sweaty days will replace the comfortable sunbathing, taking in vitamin D. We will have to shelter our skin from the damage of the sun’s rays. Air conditioners and lawnmowers will be humming in unison. Spring’s sweet songbirds will be hiding in the shade of a tree more often, just as we hide inside our homes from the heat.

Till then, wake up early to hear the bird orchestra outside your window. Take in their melody as a nourishment to your soul. Look out the window and welcome what you see. Be it sunshine or clouds, knowing that either will bring a lovely Spring day. Go to sleep to the sounds of crickets and frogs, with a fragrant breeze blowing through your windows. Drink it all in. It will give you energy when you’re melting from the heat of Summer.