Why Grief Requires a Winter Faith

Layers of snow and ice eventually melt.
Branches thaw, producing buds that burst into all sorts of colors.
White yards begin to show patches of life.
Lawn mowers buzz in neighborhoods all over the world where snow once covered every shade of green, and children run through sprinklers where they once bundled in coats to build snowmen.

No matter how bitter the winds of winter,
spring always follows.

This promise, even as frigid temperatures seem to erase memories of a warm breeze, requires a winter faith.

Life is no different than the changing of seasons.
We would have to hide our head in the sand (or snow) to miss the analogy.

Spring 
Rebirth of what seemed dead
Resurrection of life
As sure as the rising and sinking of the tide
As predictable as the sunrise or sunset
The celebration of a winter faith
Spring

Birds get it.
They wait expectantly on frozen branches, never doubting the return of all things new.

I sometimes slip in the face of long winters.
I begin to wonder if new life can really be found deep below the frozen ground.
And then I see the first hint of hope.
A robin appears.
Chirping is heard in the trees.

As if the birds know we need help living out our winter faith,
they show up at just the right time and say,
"Hang on! Spring is coming!!"

I'm thankful for winter faith,
and I'm thankful for birds that keep me watching for the arrival of spring when the days seem short and the nights seem long.

My grief requires a winter faith -
 a deep, abiding trust in the power of the resurrection.

If you find yourself grieving today, let me be a robin and say,

"Hang on!  Spring is coming!!"

Titus 1:2 
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.


Eternal Life
Rebirth of what seemed dead
Resurrection of life
As sure as the rising and sinking of the tide
As predictable as the sunrise or sunset
The celebration of a winter faith
Eternal life








1 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you my sweet, wonderful friend. I really needed to hear these words today. Thank you for listening and writing what He wants you to put down, and thank you for being our robin. :)

Post a Comment

Home

About Me