Spring Means New !!!
Spring Cleaning; a common occurrence in many homes across the globe. The weather is turning nice enough to work outside, the flowers and trees are starting to flower and bud, the mornings are greeted with the beautiful sound of birds chirping everywhere, and the wildlife has begun the typical spring time frolicking and other activities. Everything seems to be fresh and new and most hearts are alive with joy and the prospects of spring and new adventures and opportunities.
Spring also is the time of year where businesses see the biggest increase in sales. Hardware stores selling home improvement items, nursery’s selling new plants, trees, plant food and decorative planters. New home and car sales also see an increase and travel begins to ramp up to the summer vacation season. New, new, new – seems to be the buzz word EVERY spring.
So, what’s new in your life. I’ve cleaned and organized the garage, done some routine maintenance to the flowers and trees, and done some home organizing and cleaning. I am also anxious to do some serious fishing😊. Maybe you have done some of the same things?
But I can’t help but wonder about our lives; our relationships, our family and friends, and our worship. What are you doing to keep these things fresh and or feeling new? I’ll admit this is an area where I have failed more than succeeded. With social media, I stay in touch with some friends, but not all are on social media. While this is nice, it is not truly staying close to these dear people! At my advancing age, I am afraid I’m running out of time to keep these relationships close and/or it’s too late in many cases to make up for lost time. Message being, don’t waste time with friends and loved ones, take advantage of every moment – trust me – we are truly…I mean …TRULY … not too busy to do so.
We are also not too busy to have a deep personal relationship with God. Last week, we celebrated Easter and thanked God and Jesus for the incredible grace and love they showed us. Jesus died, and then was resurrected into a new life, for all. Giving each of us the opportunity to have a new life in Him. Have you thanked Him? Are you taking advantage of such a great opportunity to have a full and meaningful life? Are you seeking Him out every chance you get and entering into a relationship with Him? Again, I have failed at this, more times than not, but I do know that He loves me and forgives me. So, who better to have a meaningful relationship with than with those who truly love you, unconditionally?
You might be saying….What is the point of all these questions?
The point is that time passes us by before we know it. Our time on this earth, to be with family, friends, colleagues, and to have a relationship with God, is fleeting. When compared to eternity, our life spans are merely a grain of sand on all the beaches of all the world. I can’t help but think that at some point, in the not-too-distant future, my life will amount to my name in an obituary, and not much more. So, have I made the most of this time? Have I left an imprint on my family and friends that helps them guide the way to have a meaningful relationship with God and thus a meaningful life? What about legacy, is that important and what will my legacy be?
More questions – you’re killing me smalls? (side joke and odd film reference that some may understand 😊)
The final answer is that, of all the things I have mentioned, one of these things matters above all else. That is a relationship with God. He does not want us to worry about these things. He does not want us to stress life and how well we manage it. Why – because we will all meet again in Heaven, at least I hope all my loved ones will be there! Yes of course we want to maximize our time on this earth with everyone – be the example God wants us to be. Live life to the fullest nurturing relationships, guiding our children, and leading by example, a simple, modest, and truthful Godly life.
Having a relationship with God, and the incredible grace and love of His Son Jesus, allows us to start anew, anytime we choose to do so. We only have to surrender to Him and do our very best to honor Him. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
As the old saying go’s; Let Go and Let God. If we do, every moment of every day can be like Spring. Every day we get to start anew and bask in the incredible beauty of God’s love, and this incredible earth, that He created for our tiny little time on it.
The Apostle John asks us (1 John 5:5): "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."
Later, in this same chapter, John explains that this is the testimony from God Himself:
"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." 1 John 5:11 (NIV)
Every day, we have the chance to make a totally new day. The beautiful feeling of Spring and it’s newness, will always be upon us, but only if we choose to do so, with God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
