Spring has sprung in south Mississippi! You know what that means? It means an occasional cool morning, and if you are lucky, a pleasant day with the remainder of the days ushering summer in as fast as it can!
But the other thing is means, is lots of new growth. A few weeks ago, I had a week off from work and was able to go out and turkey hunt with husband. I had plenty of opportunity and even missed one. That was a sad day because mom doesn’t miss much!
But while we were sitting in the edge of the woods, calling the turkey and waiting, I noticed a young tree growing as it laid across my boot. I was completely drawn to how clearly I could see the new growth on the plant. The more I thought about that new growth, the more I saw spring’s new growth everywhere! Spring has definitely sprung!
I began to take a harder look at everything around me. The new growth on the pine trees was overwhelmingly evident. At the tip of every branch, was a length of different colored new growth. This time of year, every branch had 6-8 inches of new growth on it. The height of the trees has changed as well, it is just not as evident.
This drove me to look harder at everything. New growth was everywhere! It was in the grass that now needed to be mowed weekly. New growth was in the flowers that were beginning to bloom. Growth was definitely happening in the garden! It was even in the nest of Red Headed Finch eggs in the fern on the front porch.
New growth was also happening inside our home. Due to the present circumstances, we have been doing a lot of things that we don’t normally do. We have found ourselves painting on canvas and enjoying the new pastime. Our daughter is back home and doing college from the house; that’s definitely causing some new growth. On a more personal side, I have experienced lots of new growth and it is revealing itself in several inches of gray hair that desperately needs a professional! HA!
But the more I thought on the new growth and springtime that was all around us, the more I thought about the fact that God is calling us as a nation, as a people, as the body of Christ to new growth. He’s asking us to learn how to pray more and how to pray specifically. God is calling us to a deeper walk with him. He has sat us down during this time and given us the ability to take a moment and look hear Him say, “Hey, everything around you is revealing new growth, where is yours?”
I have felt so strongly about the busyness of life and how nice it was to have an empty calendar and the luxury of no schedule. And what did we do with all that free time? We filled it with even more busyness. At the end of the day, as we pass out before our heads even hit the pillow, realization comes that we just might be as busy, if not busier, here at home without a hectic calendar, than we were with one!
How did that happen? How did we take the time given to us to rest and get ready for what He has ahead for us and turn it into just more days filled with life and the cares of it. Is that happening at your house too? Instead of taking the time to pray a little longer or read God’s word for a few extra minutes, we’ve decided to makeover, redo, build or even tear out things that could have waited. All of the honey-do lists are getting completed, and there is really nothing wrong with that, except it is at the expense of the new growth that He gave us this time to work on.
The key is in the word “decided.” We have decided that it is time plant the garden and it had to be done right this minute. It was decided that the fence could no longer stay where it was, it had to be moved and redone. It was decided that this photo project just had to be completed; the old window and photos had sat there for too long and it just couldn’t sit for another second. So we decided. We decided to do all those things and at the end of the day, looked back and thought where was His time. When did I sit and spend time with Him, the one who gave me all this time?
Luke 10:38-42 ESV 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus[a] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[b] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
You see what Mary did there? She decided to not be busy and to sit and learn from Jesus. Jesus told Martha, “she has chosen.” Wow!
I am choosing. Today, I am deciding. Yes, there will still be new projects completed, fences will be mended and to-do lists will be completed. But first, I am deciding, I am choosing, to allow new growth in myself. I will apply the water of His word and let the fertilizer of His spirit bring forth the new growth in me. I am choosing to make time for Him. He made this time for me and I am going to take it!
It’s not too late for you either. Maybe you have been busy like us. Maybe you have tried to make the most of every bit of time, but the most didn’t include more time with the Father. Start today. Let springtime enter your heart and let the new growth begin. Perhaps you’ve recently began doing some new things in your life. Have you learned to paint like us, or started baking bread? Possibly, you’ve picked up a new hobby or planted a garden spot for the first time? Don’t let your new growth just be evident in the physical. Spring has sprung…let it bring some new growth spiritually as well!
“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; “—
Abraham Maslow
Lovely perspective! I certainly believe there is a calling we are forced to examine through this pandemic. Yes, the circle of life is everywhere and we have to pay attention to how it comes around.
Thank you for reading and sharing!