Cleaning Up The Winter Mess-by Heidi McLaughlin

Finally, in Kelowna the snow has melted and replaced the terrain with a grey and brown mess.  Even though our winter was harsh, the majestic beauty of fresh, glimmering snow temporarily hid the remnants of fallen leaves and dried vegetation. On my regular five kilometre walks I love to look around at God’s glorious creation and take time to praise Him and thank Him that I live in such a beautiful country. Today it was hard, as my eyes took in the grey rubble, mud and brownish flattened grass. 

Winter has left its stain.

The winter seasons in our life also leave their ugly scars and discoloured reality. Those seasons of grief, disappointments and daily struggles, when it seems that everyone is getting on with his or her life and you’re left behind. When the communication in your marriage hits a rock wall.  Or when you feel like you’ve lost control of your children and call yourself a “terrible parent.” When you’re trying to start a new novel or non-fiction book and the landscape of your brain is barren and dry. No matter how hard you try, the monthly budget just doesn’t meet all the needs.  Those are the dark and lonely days of the winter season.

Trudging along with one foot in front of the other I reflected on my own winter season. Yes, losing my second husband to a heart attack was dreadful and hard and left a grey mess in my life.  But how sad if I continue to stay in that darkness without hope of new life.  As I continued my walk I saw   The vineyard workers had been in the fields and starting pruning the grape vines.  The beginning of new life! Bountiful fruit.  The new season of spring is just around the corner. 

signs of new hope.

New hope!

We all go through those hard cycles of life, but what a waste if we stay in that mess and never allow God to prune us for new beginnings.  New growth.  Transformed minds. So how do we continue this journey out of winter and into spring?   “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on our own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

Trusting God to take you out of your darkness and onto a new pathway starts with knowing who “your Lord” is.  Is it your own strength? Is it the advice of your friends and family? Or is it the Lord, the creator of Heaven and earth? The One who knew you before the foundations of the world were formed? The One who marches the stars out each night and calls them by name, and not one of them is missing? (Isaiah 40:26). 

Our Lord who has a good future and plan for each one of us.

I know it may not feel like it, but God is with us every day helping us to live out our very best life.  In the same way that our nature seasons come and go, our life and soul seasons follow that same rhythm. Allow God to guide you out of your winter darkness, let Him prune what needs to go, and embrace the fresh and new springtime of your life. Watch the new fruit emerge!

Heidi McLaughlin lives in the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia. Heidi has been widowed twice. She is a mom and step mom of a wonderful, eclectic blended family of 5 children and 12 grandchildren. When Heidi is not working, she loves to curl up with a great book, or golf and laugh with her family and special friends.

Her latest book RESTLESS FOR MORE: Fulfillment in Unexpected Places (Including a FREE downloadable Study Guide) is now available at Amazon.ca; Amazon.com, Goodreads.com or her website: www.heartconnection.ca

Strong Roots for Supple Limbs (by Peter A. Black)

Who in Southwestern Ontario (and most of Southern Canada, perhaps) needs convincing that

spring’s here – I mean, really here? There’s no doubt now. Despite decidedly snappy starts to some days and brisk morning breezes, nature’s been heralding spring’s arrival for weeks. Robins bobbed along for quite a while, singing their sweet song, pairing up and busying themselves building nests in readiness for starting a family. Numerous avian returnees followed their lead.

Ah, spring – season of new life and new beginnings!

Foliage now clothes the nakedness of winter’s dormancy, ready to offer hospitality to a host of creatures and sunshade for people fair of skin.  Forsythia and magnolia shouted a colourful welcome, and blossoming trees continue to praise their Creator, announcing the promise of fruit.

Source Credit: ClipartFest.com

No wonder the Christian community celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ in spring, at Easter. I continue to meet people who’ve experienced a springtime in their lives because Jesus has become real to them and a living entity within them.

Early this spring my wife and I had the honour of participating in a memorial service to a lady who, in her early senior years opened up her life in faith to the Lord Jesus in a new way.

Last fall she married her long-time sweetheart, then was baptized as a Christ-follower and became a member of the church fellowship that became a recent part of her life’s journey. During the period of her making these commitments she was forward-looking, despite serious illness.

This was a time of new beginnings, she said.

One day I accompanied her pastor – my friend Andy – when visiting her in hospital. She intimated to us that she was at peace and had absolutely no fear of dying. If not granted recovery this lady knew she would go to be with the Lord she loved. Upon reflection I realise that, although physically in the concluding season of her earthly life, this person was truly living in the springtime of her new life “in Christ” – to use a scriptural term.

It was late autumn physically for her, because the fading leaves of her earthly existence had fully turned and were now falling; only a few remained. And yet hers was a hope-filled springtime spiritually. And so, with my wistful and respectful reflections on that lady, who’d become my friend, let’s get back to spring.

Credit, Free Images: Getty

Spring, summer and autumn are wonderful months for weddings. Next weekend, God willing, Rev. Andy will officiate at another wedding and I’ll be at the organ. With measured steps, the bride – a middle-aged lady – will glide regally to meet her groom at that same altar to be wed in the sight of God, while I sing, Walk Hand in Hand with Me.* This couple is also stepping onto the road of new beginnings, suggested in these lines from that song “Walk hand in hand with me, God is our destiny; No greater love could be . . .”

Source: Midwest Living

With divorce rates in North America nudging close to 50% many young people and even second-time-around older couples are giving up on traditional marriage unions, opting instead for common-law arrangements. Not surprisingly, some millennials, traumatized by their parents’ break-ups, are fearful of declaring strong, traditional Christian-based vows.

I invariably lift up silent prayer in behalf of friends and acquaintances who stand at an altar “in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses” to declare their intentions of fidelity in marriage.

The seasons of life inevitably lead to the chilly blasts of winter. How important to develop strong roots, resilient trunks and supple limbs during life’s spring and summer.

~~~

* Composer: Johnny Cowell. © 1956 Republic Music Corp.

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Peter A. Black lives in Southwestern Ontario. He writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column, P-Pep! and is author of Raise Your Gaze ... Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart, and Parables from the Pond. ~~+~~