After a long winter, spring is most certainly welcomed.
It is interesting that Scripture often talks of this season like a welcoming rain shower that nourishes the ground and soothes the parched land.
Have you ever notice how spring changes your mood and brings a new sense of hope?
After the winter cold and grey days, flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing, birds are singing, lambs bleating and warm winds are felt.
The sky is bluer and the grass is greener.
Spring isn’t only a delight for our senses, but uplifting for our souls.
It’s certainly easy to behold the beauty of God’s creation when it erupts in colour, birdsong and new life in spring.
‘The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground — trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’ (Gen. 2:9).
We all need to take time to smell the roses, and be amazed by the myriad flowers with different colours and scents.
There are more than 400,000 different types of flowering plants.
Jesus told us to consider the lilies of the field.
Not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of them (Matt 6:28-29).
No matter how hard humans try, we can’t replicate God’s creation of making a plant from seed and causing it to grow, with the resulting blossom of colour, texture, scent and symmetry, as well as nectar and pollen, food for the birds and bees.
Consider the blue sky. Peaceful, soft blue colours cause the body to produce calming chemicals.
In fact, blue is the most calming colour in the world.
Strong blues stimulate clear thought, and softer blues calm the mind and aid concentration.
If the sky was red, we would all have higher blood pressure.
In Psalm 23 we read God makes us lie down in green pastures.
Green (my favourite colour) is perhaps the most perfect contrast colour. It reflects nature and vitality.
As well as the physical beauty of God’s creation, we also have the ability to appreciate the musical beauty.
There are about 830 species of birds, including a variety of songbirds.
Their songs are highly complex, and they never sing out of key!
As I write this, I can hear the birds singing in the backyard.
So next time you find yourself outdoors, take time to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation this spring, and meditate on His wisdom and creativity.
I often spend my quiet times reading God’s word and communing with Him surrounded by His awesome creation.
Give it a try and renew your hope, and don’t allow the winter blues to consume you.
‘He has made everything beautiful in its time …’ (Eccl. 3:11).
— Sonia Edwards, Echuca Moama Salvation Army
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