The Average Jane Journal #39
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Happy Spring!! I'm a bit late, but officially two days ago we entered the season of Spring. On that day, I pondered Spring and what it means for people. I thought about how so many people love Spring and what it represents. For a lot of people Spring is their favorite season; they look forward to flowers and gardening, colors and "new" growth everywhere. Spring is also the door opening to warmer weather, or so we hope.
I have never really given much thought to the season of Spring, it's just another day to me. I don't care too much about flowers and gardening(I figure I might do that when I'm old). To me Spring reminds me that the HOT weather is coming-which makes me dislike Spring just because it's a bookend to summer.(heehee)
Anyway, as I was pondering on the first day of Spring and thinking about how different I am from most folks about the seasons, I was reminded that we were all given different likes/dislikes and it's ok that I'm different. Now find me on a beautiful Autumn day and then I will sing my praises for my fav season. The perfect day to me is a fall day, the leaves crisp and laying everywhere on the ground. The temp would probably be in the low sixties, a light jacket might be needed if I so choose. And you want color? How beautiful are the short lived Fall colors, when the trees are turning. Sure, your Spring colors stay around longer; but to me that short lived beauty outdoes Spring by miles.
I was talking to God about how different I am, or at least that's how I see it. I'm sort of always "against the grain". But then God reminded me about how He made us all different-so of course we're going to all like different things. Besides, if everyone likes Spring, He had to create some of us that were fans of His other seasons and beauties.
Plus, one thing I do love about coming out of winter is rain. I absolutely LOVE rain!! I was reading a book recently where the author was describing a morning he was having. He was up in his mountain cabin, which had a screened in porch and he was sitting in the safety of that porch watching the hard, fast downpour of rain. All I can say is I wanted to jump in that book and be right there. To me I see that as peaceful and beautiful, where other people see that as stressful and a ruin to a day. So again I asked God, why am I so weird? Why would I find peace and beauty in a rainstorm, when the majority of people do not. I immediately heard "everything stops" and "mighty power".
Where you lovers of Spring find God's mighty power in the flowers and colors of His mighty creation-I see some of His mighty power and beauty in rain. To me rain is romantic and peaceful; and I love the sound and smell of rain. Ever since I read that story of the screened in porch I have pictured that everyday, and I think I long for that peace-the "everything stops" moments and just be with God. Of course I would preface this "dream" day by saying I would want my family home and safe, and that the rainstorm would not cause harm to others. Can I wish that in my perfect day? I would also ask that it not be hot, sticky rain(I'm from Texas). I also know this couldn't be an "everyday" day, then it wouldn't be special; just a beautiful treat from God.
Anyway, all these thoughts of seasons and weather just made me think of what I am thankful for. What do I love that God created? It's ok that I'm different, God made me that way. So next time you're alone with God, just for fun, imagine your perfect day; that treat that is beautiful just to you. Imagine the temperature, what you would be doing, what clothes you're wearing, who you would be with, etc. Tell him thank you for those special days you have had and the ones to come.
Another thing that came out of all the "Spring" thinking is I thought about what that word represents like "newness", "new growth", "springing forward", etc. It made me think that I want to "spring forward" in another area of my faith walk and spritual growth. The subject I was reading about that day was getting rid of agreements you have made along life's road that are not of God. Like things you have come to believe about yourself or God, because of experiences and satan planting seeds in your heart that you have believed. Some examples are:
I am not worthy to God, I could never be used by Him
I do not deserve love
I am not good enough for God to love me
Love never stays
I am weird because I am different (sound familiar???)
God doesn't care about the little things in my life, I just need to figure them out by myself
God will never forgive me, I am too bad of a person
You get what I mean about agreements that are not of God? So this is my "spring" of my spiritual journey this year. I want to notice subtle agreements and get rid of them.(remember satan loves to use subtleness) What are your agreements that you live with? I encourage you to "spring forward" in this area and leave those agreements behind. Next time something is getting you down, just remember to ask yourself "Is this of GOD? Does this match his character and heart?". If it's not and you have been believing it, then get rid of it.
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