Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the [dove] is heard in our land (Song 2:11-12).

The snowdrops are up and blooming! Green shoots of chives and tarragon and oregano are poking up through the herb bed soil. The migrant birds are returning with their spring-and-summer songs. The sun shines bright and warm on my face, the sky stretches out blue, and the breeze blows warm. Hallelujah!

Here in the north, these things evoke a joy that tropical folks may not understand. A cold, bleak winter magnifies the joys of spring. Isn’t that just how this life’s trials will surely magnify the joys of our eternal Spring to come? Look in hope for Spring!