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New like Spring
Posted By Janice
It was just after Easter nineteen years ago. But somehow, this afternoon, the birds’ singing and the sweet spring air brought me back there – to a fragment of time that most teenagers wouldn’t even have noticed.
But that day it was hard not to notice the beauty of spring. After being stuck in my hospital room, stepping out into the fresh spring air was shocking. I was only outside on the hospital’s patio garden for a brief escape, but it took my breath away and somehow kept me going – a promise that life was still beautiful and full of new beginnings.
Today, after an afternoon of tears and praying my baby would survive my latest pregnancy scare, as I walked out of the hospital another incredible spring day met me.
In the middle of our heartache, it always seems strange to me how nature just keeps moving on, regardless of what is happening to the humans passing through. And while sometimes I want to scream at the sun, “How dare you shine – don’t you know how much we are hurting!” more often I am comforted by nature’s reliability and rebirth. New days will be born and, after the storm, the sun will eventually shine again.
With today being Good Friday, I couldn’t help thinking about Jesus’ loved ones and their heartache after his gruesome death. What a horrific weekend that must have been for them. Their anguish must have been unbearable as they not only grieved their beloved Jesus, but questioned everything they believed in. Did the sun greet them that morning after? Did flowers gently dance in the fields as the birds sang carefree songs? Did it all punctuate their pain even more as they tried to face a new life they didn’t want?
On that hospital patio, just as today, I had no answers or guarantees about my future days. Inevitably there will be both suffering and joy, but I will have to wait for the details.
But I do have one truth that Mary and all the other mourners did not yet have that long, horrible weekend.
I know that, just as the new buds will bloom and the birds will sing, Christ will give us new life. Death will not defeat us. Heartache will not crush us forever. We will see Him and we will be healed. We will laugh and dance and sing – just like spring. Here on earth we will have trouble, but, when Christ died and rose again, He overcame the world.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!” John 16:33
Apr 7th, 2007
Oh, this is beautiful. I hope everything is well with you and baby tonight. You know I am praying.
Much Love,
Steph
Such a wonderful blog! I love that verse in John… such a great reminder!
Janice,
What a beautiful picture of Christ purpose, and also of what we, as His loved ones, might have felt in these days of watching Him.
I will be praying for you and your baby!
Love in Christ,
Elisa
Janice - what a testimony. here I am physically well (although in depression) and I begrudge the simple household duties I have - and I take for granted my health. God has certainly used you and your sickness to learn for yourself and then teach other people. I will pray for your baby - when is he/she due? do you know the gender and/or name? Maybe a devotion sometime about how to be “in love” with being a mom? I have 3 - 8, 6 and 3. I was in love till my first turned 2. thanks for your ministry.
Thank you Janice for the beautiful reminder. And with Christ we can overcome.
This is such a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing with us & reminding us!
Hey Janice I was reading over at 5 minutes for mom, and traveled over here to read your post. After reading all you have been through this week I will say extra prayers for you. It seems as though we are all going through a testing of our faith.
I thought you might appreciate this post I wrote about Mary - MOTHER of Jesus . Read and remember the last part of the post. Hang on to it through October and on!
God Bless!
Janice,
I just left you at a note at 5 minutes for Mom, but I want you to know that you are on my mind. This post is absolutely beautiful. I will continue to pray and look in on your progress.
I have been in your situation twice and everything turned out fine.
You are in my prayers.
I came over here from your 5minutesformom. That is really beautiful. I also love the reminder in John 16:33. That was good timing……. You are in my prayers.
What a beautiful picture you portray - what a strong and beautiful woman you are! Be blessed!