Spent some time yesterday with a friend at our mutual friend's "TNT Greenhouse" in Bradford, NY. Brought home flowers for a large pot to set on our front steps and to fill a hanging basket on the back deck. I’ve also watched Mama Robin build a nest in an empty birdfeeder on our deck, now setting on 3 little blue eggs, with hummingbirds and orioles returning to their respective feeders. And, tho my Juneberry bush, daffodils and tulips are done blooming, the lilacs began blooming this week as trees have fully opened their leaves to the sun … reminding us once again … it’s spring!  Enjoy the beauty of God’s creation all around you!  

Ahhh, spring!  My favorite season!  And hasn’t it been looking beautiful outside?  I love to see the signs of new life emerging slowly, almost imperceptibly, after earth’s long wintry sleep.  To smell the fresh earthy aroma that follows a gentle spring rain is so refreshing, to see the grass almost immediately turning from shades of crisp tan and brown and dingy green to rich verdant greens, and to watch the daintiest leaf or flower bud begin to emerge… these all bring joy to my heart. 

With a bright sun’s nourishing warmth, those leaf buds soon swell and burst open, bringing many more shades of green to life.  Then, as flowers burst open to brighten the landscape, it’s as though all of creation rejoices with an endless bounty of color.  “For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)

I’ve often thought about the joy and pleasure it must have given our God as He created every aspect of this world, every plant and creature… each uniquely designed!  After His work of creating separate aspects of this world each day of the week, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31 NIV)  Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to have been a witness as this marvelous creation came to be?  I’ve also imagined that the first week of creation was spring with vivid colors bursting forth in blooms from every kind of plant and flower imaginable!  An amazing palette of color!

When God created man and woman in His image to tend and care for the beautiful Garden of Eden, ultimately to be caretakers of the new world at large… they were each uniquely created and loved by God… just as we are in our own time.  And to know that all this beauty was created for our pleasure, to treasure and nourish… what an awesome responsibility and beautiful gift we were given! 

Enjoy the beauty of spring in all its glory as it bursts forth anew to revive and color our every-day world with exhilarating joy!

Colors of Spring

Linda A. Roorda

From brilliant yellow of forsythia arched

To burgundy red on trees standing tall

The colors of spring emerge in great beauty

To brighten our days from winter’s dark sleep.

From shades of chartreuse as leaf buds burst forth

To pink and white flowers in cloud-like halos

Hovering on branches in glowing full bloom

Swaying above carpets of undulating green.

From rich azure sky with puffs of white-gray

To pale blue horizon at forested hills

With sun-streaked rays like fingers of God

To lengthening shadows as light slowly fades.

From velvet black night as moon rises full

To glittering diamonds twinkling bright

Up over hills on their path through the sky

Gliding above trees with limbs reaching out.

From earth’s colorful palette awakening clear

To the crisp and bold and shades of pastels

Shimmering and dancing to brighten our day

Created by God, our pleasure to behold.

~~