PROMISE

Hope and the promise of spring. It is perhaps the only thing that can get you through the lifelessness and drab of the wintertime.

It has been a while since I have had the ultimate experience of Spring - when the excitement and beauty of winter wanes, and monotony and bleakness begins overwhelm. You go through it mechanically, as you have nothing much to do but to survive it. Then one day, as you take a stroll outside, still wrapped in layers of clothing to keep warm, you stumble across a single little Forget-Me-Not bud, very much alive sticking out from a pile of dead twigs! LIFE! The hope you have been anticipating! Spring is coming! 

Now living in a tropical island country, where the seasons are only between "hot and wet", Springtime barely makes her appearance, If ever it does, perhaps in psuedo-spring forms. If flowers were the sign of Spring, then it can happen in anytime during the year - February, April, May and October...and depending where you are in the country.

Or perhaps a trip to the flower shop in Dangwa can give one a wiff of spring anytime!

But the occurrence of Winter and Spring can also find its way into my life as well. A harsh winter, unforgiving, draining and deceiving. It can drain every ounce of energy and spiritual juices from my veins! 

But the promise of change, the promise of life renewed, the promise of salvation lingers at my door. No, it is not yet time for them to come in, but they are there nonetheless. HOPE.

And so I was just filled with delight when our backyard floral plants came into bloom. Why so? Because they were all almost dying and hopeless when my husband rescued them from here and there. They not only gave me joy for their survival, and yes beauty, they became an resounding reminder from God that spring has come. It is time to open the door and let his promises in.

"But I'm not letting go of this hope I have that tells me...

 Spring is coming, Spring is coming

And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
Spring is coming, Spring is coming
It won't be long now, it's just about here

Hear the birds start to sing
Feel the life in the breeze
Watch the ice melt away
The kids are coming out to play

Feel the sun on your skin
Growing strong and warm again



Watch the ground: there's something moving
Something is breaking through
New life is breaking through

 

Spring is coming, Spring is coming
And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
Spring is coming, Spring is coming
And it won't be long now, it's just about here

Spring is coming, Spring is coming

 Out of these ashes, beauty will rise
And all we've been hoping and longing for soon will appear
Sorrow will be turned to joy

Spring is coming, Spring is coming

All we hoped for soon will appear
It won't be long now, it's just about here
Out of the dark clouds, beauty will shine
All above in heaven, rejoice 
Spring is coming soon!

(Steven Curtis Chapman's "Spring is Coming")