Sunday afternoon Dave and I sat on the deck waiting for friends to come and go for dinner with us. As I sat with my face toward the sun soaking up the late afternoon rays, I remembered that I needed to write this post. Knowing we were leaving soon, I expressed my consternation to Dave that I hadn’t decided what to write yet. He was very helpful so this post is dedicated to him! Thanks for the inspiration, Dave!

⁸And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

Spring is a time of awakening. Winter is past, the days are longer, the air warmer. Underground, roots are awakening, preparing to send new growth up through the dirt to reach the sun.

In our yard, we have a lot of plants that come back year after year. Hostas, ferns, astilbes, grasses, sedum, bleeding hearts . . . all disappear with the cold of winter. For a while, our landscaping looks barren and gray.

Last week as I cleaned the leaves out of the landscaping beds in our yard, I thought about how unimaginative and drab the beds looked. As I worked, I called to mind what it would look like in just a few weeks when the new growth was visible. Everything beneath the trees will be covered in the green, purple and yellow hues of the summer plants. Transformation happens almost overnight as the days warm up.

Life sometimes takes a winter hibernation season. It’s so easy in the winter season to focus on what is not rather than what is coming — SPRING! I encourage you to fix your thoughts, not on the death of winter, but on what is growing in the soil of your heart. Think on things that are positive, pure, lovely, true, right, admirable. Focus on what is excellent and worthy of praise. Winter is nearly passed; spring is breaking through!

This is true, not only in nature, but in your life as well. Remember, not all growth happens at the same rate. Some of my plants are several inches tall; others have barely started sending up new shoots. Be patient, put into practice what is true and the peace of God will surround you.