♪A Note of Thanks ♪ A Word of Hope – A Time for Longing
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot...a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…God has made everything beautiful in its time.” taken from Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV, 2011)
The long, cold winter is almost over, and I am eager for warm weather. I’m just ‘plain tired’ of seeing bare trees and lifeless brown leaves covering the ground. I have longed to see wildflowers poke through the dead leaves and to watch the woods turn green once more. Two weeks ago, on my way to South Alabama to get my son, Trent, who was to stay for a week celebrating his 22nd birthday, I got off the interstate in Montgomery and drove down Dexter Avenue by the state capitol and other historic buildings. As I drove through the Cloverdale section of Montgomery, passing the Jewish Temple, Montgomery Country Club, Huntington College and further down McGee Road Baptist Church, I began to notice that the leaves had already popped out on the trees with lots of new growth appearing. I also saw young people in shorts, tee shirts and flip-flops while it was still cold up in Birmingham. I just have this longing in my heart for new growth and new life.
Recently, a very prominent man, Don Drennen, passed away. Those of us that have lived in Birmingham most of our lives remember Don Drennen Buick and automobile dealerships. Don was a deacon at Brookwood Baptist Church. My dear friend, Sarah Jackson Shelton, took part in Don’s memorial service. The Jackson and Drennen families’ friendship goes way back. Sarah spoke recently of her relationship with Mrs. Drennen, who was an avid gardener. Mrs. Drennen came over to Sarah’s house one day to give her advice on the gardens surrounding her home. Mrs. Drennen told Sarah to prune this bush, cut that plant to the ground, dig up that plant and offered other sound, proven advice on what will and will not work. In pruning, cutting back and digging up, new growth can appear and also gives room for other plants.
I witnessed new growth just yesterday at my river home after we had an unanticipated flood last week with many tributaries flowing into the Black Warrior River; it just edged up slowly and suddenly came out of its bank. Fortunately, this flood did not wreak the damage of two years ago. After the rains ended and the sun came out, lilies, hosta, forsythia and oak-leaf hydrangea leaves were popping out while the Lenten roses had purplish-pink and buttery-cream blooms.
I guess what I’m trying to say is this: I like to see plants come back to life. I don’t mind the hard work. It takes planning and preparation. Life is like this, with its ebbs and flows, ups and downs, new and old, but somehow God is in the midst of it all longing for us to have fellowship with Him. It may take something to get our attention, but that yearning and seeking can lead to new and exciting times in our lives. Further, we can experience joy when those beautiful flowers appear after the winter snow, rain, floods and cold weather of life subside.
According to author Ron Ash, “We are where we need to be and learning what we need to learn. Stay the course because the things we experience today will lead us to where He needs us to be tomorrow.
In every season, there is a reason to rejoice and an opportunity to do good (Eccl. 3:12). The challenge for each of us every day is to find something to rejoice about and some good to do – and then to do both.
Just as the winter turns to spring,
Our lives have changing seasons too;
So when a gloomy forecast comes,
Remember – God has plans for you. –Sper
Thank you God for showing your love through dear friends, who influence our lives, encourage us and cause us to work in the Garden of Life, thus seeing a new season that brings great joy! Amen.
As we dig in the garden, side-by-side, I remain, your friend,
Mark David Jackson
