"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." ~hal borland

It has been a long, hard winter--and I'm not just talking about the weather. For surely lives are as susceptible to seasons of winter as are years. And when the two coincide, it is especially difficult. But, recently, we have begun to see Spring peeking it's beautiful head out, and we have dared to have hope. We have begun to understand what Hal Borland was talking about. There will certainly be seasons of winter--some more harsh than others--but these bleak seasons will not last, and will, with all certainty, be replaced by the freshness of Spring. All that was dead will be alive again--and more beautiful than before, if only for having been dead. All that was brown will be green. And all that was dark will be light. I do not delude myself into thinking that I have seen the last of the winter days. But I am encouraged that Spring is waiting to take over. And I am blessed that the Lord made His mercy towards us evident in something we can wrap our minds around, like the changing of the seasons. "The Lord Himself goes before you: He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged" (Deut. 31:8). "But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall" (Malachi 4:2). The winter will not last forever. He is ushering in the spring. 

"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." ~ Song of Songs 2: 11-12