Emptying trash I noticed my forsythia (yellow bell) was blooming.  It was around 46 degrees and there was no sun.  But the rain from day before and little sunshine caused the bush to put forth its yellow buds.

After a harsh winter, it was so good to see new life.  I then looked at my daylily beds.  They were pushing through the unmanaged ground too. Even some tulips reaching for the sun. Yeah, spring must not be too far away.

Pansies planted in sunny location are thriving. Other pansies on porch suffer from lack of sun and my failure to water regularly and also freezing during freezes.

I sometimes feel like those neglected beds and planters.  Messy, unkept, maybe even ignored. It is easy for those of us who are alone to feel this way from time to time.  Especially during a long cold winter. 

But for those who have a presence of the Lord in our lives, all we need is to reach out (read our Bible, listen to praise music, gather with other believers) and remember the warmth and nurturing we experience.  So, let’s rake off the cold, deadness of winter and look forward to the warmth and moisture of spring to nourish our lives and souls.

This is from Gibbs Gardens several years ago. That is what we want in our yards and also how we want our lives to blossom.

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31

Thank you God for Spring and your presence.