Foreshadowing

It happens every year in our area of Southeast Texas and has for as long as I can remember-a warm spell signaling the end of winter, such as it is here. It is a harbinger of spring calling people to Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Tractor Supply to browse through the nursery. Tilling begins and the soil is prepped for seeds and seedlings. The dead brown leaves slowly begin to disappear as they are replaced with the promise of new growth in the budding of the redbuds and pear trees. The dogwoods are not yet blooming. That will come a few weeks later.

The older folks say winter is not officially over until the pecan trees bud out. “Somehow they just know,” they say.

Neighbors chat with one another as yards are mowed and prepped for the coming weather. Bluebirds make their homes in provided houses. The robins arrive and blanket the yards in red and brown.

Birdseed becomes common once again in the feeders, though it has been there all winter. I am sure the birds have been most appreciative but I have been inside and have not been willing to sit outside long enough to enjoy the birds other than through the windows.

Before the bluebirds and robins murders of crows arrived. They sat atop the trees cawing loud enough to wake the dead. All I can hear is, “Lenore,never more!” I try to remember that these birds were not sent to me by Edgar Allan Poe. They are just as much a part of God’s creation as the songbirds.

The hummingbird migration will begin soon, or already has. But I have not seen any yet. So, I’ve made some sugar water. It cools while the grand babies sleep and I write.

We will probably have another cool snap before real spring arrives. But for today, even with my jacket, I soak in the sun as I listen to the geese calling to one another. “Good job! Keep flying! We are almost there! When you are tired I will take point. But you can do this!”

Perhaps this is a small reason God created the seasons. In the season of winter things appear dead. But it is a mirage, for life remains! In this season I can hear my God call to me, “Rise up, my darling, Come away with me, my fair one! Look, the winter is past and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of the singing of birds has come…” Song of Solomon 10-12

So, my friend, keep flying! Sing with the birds. You can do this! Winter is past. And if it is not, it will be. God is with you. He will not leave your side. Spring arrives on the other side of winter! And oh, how beautiful it will be!