SPRINGTIME IS COMING!

By Kathleen Brewer

Today, March 3, it is snowing again. You may disagree, but I look forward to springtime—no more ice to fall on. I have put salt and sand on my driveway, and it seems like twenty-five times this winter. Not literally- but it sure feels that way! No more snow to shovel. No more heavy coats, scarves, mittens, and boots that kill my feet. If you haven’t guessed, winter isn’t my favourite season. But no worries, winter is relatively short and then comes...

Springtime! Springtime is a beautiful season when we see the first robin, the tulips, crocus, or daffodils bloom, or the trees bud and get green. Children begin to draw hopscotch or pictures on the pavement—so many beautiful sights, smells, and sounds of spring.

Springtime also brings with it spring cleaning. When you go through your house, cleaning out drawers and closets, removing clothes that don’t fit anymore or need buttons. Also, a time to tidy drawers and put new liners in drawers. Washing cabinets or dirty spots around the woodwork. Scrub floors, wash windows and let that fresh spring air into the house. When I was a child, my mom also used to wallpaper and paint. Old dust bunnies that have collected behind furniture would get taken away. What, you don’t have dust bunnies? I am sorry that my dust bunnies may have grown to be dust rabbits behind my dresser. Oops! I need to spring clean this year.

Well, Lent is the 40-day season of preparation which means “lengthen” as the days get longer, like springtime when we spring-clean our homes. We need to clean the dust bunnies out of our hearts, those things that distract us from having a closer relationship with Christ. Lent is that time to prepare our hearts and minds to remember Jesus’ death and resurrection. We do this by spending more time in the word of God and praying with God. During the day, spend time with God to show you what sins or bad habits you need to clean out of your life and what you need to replace them with. In Matthew 4: 1-4, after Jesus was baptized, He entered 40 days and nights of temptation in the desert with Satan. If He had not been in prayer and the scripture, Jesus would not have been able to resist Satan. Likewise, we must prepare for the days ahead of temptation and trials. God will help us prepare if we ask.

May God bless you during Lent!