Choosing Life- Look, See, Pray

Catkins usually appear when winter still has icy talons round our necks. Even when the (welcome) sun shines, it’s still chilly. Few leaves show at this point.

It will rain tomorrow according to the Met Office. And the next day. The keen wind is from the north-east: coming from the frozen fjords of Norway, there is still a hint on the wind that snow might be back before Spring arrives.

Well, I’m choosing to choose life. I am looking out for crocus, daffodils, catkins, and the early camellias. For everything that points to godly hope.

When I see these tokens of Spring my spirits are lifted- and I can cope better with the grey days and the storms.

My garden is being used as a restaurant: today I saw wrens, blackbirds, great tits, blue tits, dunnocks, and a robin. A green woodpecker yaffles loudly not far away but hasn’t popped in for a couple of weeks. We also have wood pigeons, crows, magpies, gulls, and a small tribe of robber squirrels. Seeds, nuts, fatballs and water are on the menu: and the creatures choose life with a helping hand from the Lord.

Spring IS round the corner; and it will bring green growth, happy avian families, chubby squirrels… Life in glorious variety. Hallelujah! Amen!

God of the Springtime,
thank you for life.
For fluffy catkins and daffodils,
for cheerful birdsong,
for squirrel acrobats,
and big bumbly bees.

Thank you for hope
even in the dark days.
Thank you for caring,
and answering prayers.
For bringing us safe
through winter's gnawing.
Amen.

"Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. 
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the 
winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” - Hosea 6 v3