Stop and Smell the Flowers

Spring has sprung!  What a glorious time of year where everywhere we look is the promise of new life and warmer weather.  The humming birds have returned, daffodils are in bloom, and the croaking of frogs fills the evening air.

I don't know how life is for you, but for the Bray family, along with the beauty of spring comes the business of spring.  Most weeks we don't have a single night free and the weekends are even more packed. My Grandma Judy used to say, "You're so busy you meet yourself coming." Although her saying is more true than I'd like to admit, I am learning to slow down and enjoy the beauty around me.

A few years ago, during a particularly busy season of my life, I had a visitor who asked if the dogwood tree in my backyard had bloomed.  I was so sad when I realized I had no idea if it had bloomed or not, and I promised myself right then and there I would never again be so busy that I couldn't take time to smell the flowers.  

 Psalm 96:11-12 says:
 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.  Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy.

These verses are so beautiful, and they remind me of the promise of spring. I can just imagine all the flowers and trees being jubilant as they return from winter's freezing grasp. When I came home this afternoon, I noticed the dogwood tree was just beginning to bloom.  Tonight as soft rain pelts on the window panes, I am reminded of God's promise that as long as the earth remains there will always be seasons.  Tomorrow is going to be very busy, but you can be sure that as I meet myself coming I will spend a few minutes in the backyard admiring the dogwood tree. I will always regret missing the dogwood tree bloom that year, but now I rejoice and sing for joy with the trees of the forest as I welcome spring.