Springing Ahead, Part III

Springing ahead is not always easy.  It may seem an easy enough task yet life will sometimes block your path with rocks.  We all have rocks in our life that are hindering our ability to spring.  The ten years following my sister's kidnapping loss and grief were a couple of my rocks.  Anger, tension and fear were another few.  At times these rocks were boulders preventing me to spring and sometimes even put my feet on the floor to enjoy another day.  It is our view and outlook on those rocks that will not determine IF we can spring but instead...how HIGH we WILL spring!

While out for a walk with my dad and daughter today we were enjoying the news buds bursting through the brown of tree branches - the red and yellow buds striving to the surface from the soil.  We ran our fingers in the dirt to clear the leaves blown from the barren branches this winter to make it easier for the flowers to acheive their goal...sunshine.  Spring is this coming Sunday with the flowers, trees and even us yearning and hungry for more days of sunshine, warmth and hope to make it easier to spring forward with our daily lives.

While enjoying the sunshine, the walk and conversation with my Dad I said "I wanted to take a picture of a flower fighting its way through the soil for my blog."  Both my father and daughter smiled and said, nearly in unison, "Why of course, the blog."  We all enjoyed a smile and laugh in love.  Less than ten seconds later dad said "The perfect bud is waiting for you under the kitchen window."  And he was right...it was even better than I could have imagined.  A yellow daffodil was standing at attention absorbing all the sun was providing.  The soil was moist and rich with nutrients of mulched leaves, bird droppings and new birth from its restful winter.

Look at the picture again.  This time imagine you are the daffodil bursting through the soil with determination, power, strength, hunger, anticipation and hope for all the Son has for you this day.  Look around the budding flower.  Do you see them?  There are rocks...small and large!  In spite of the rocks, this flower has persevered and made it to the surface to be enveloped in the warmth of the sun.  Just like this daffodil - you can break the surface, break the chains that bind you with a strength, power and hope through the love of Jesus.  With Jesus as your friend, holding you in His arms, enveloping you with all these qualities - you will persevere.  You will move the rocks that had been weighing you down to come out on the other side in victory! 

Celebrate this new day!  We all have rocks in our lives and sometimes even a boulder or two yet I choose to keep pushing through the dirt of life and move those rocks and boulders to the side so I can absorb all Jesus has for me as I feel His love keeping me warm and fulfilling all my spiritual needs.

Psalm 71:19-21

 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
   you who have done great things.
   Who is like you, God?
Though you have made me see troubles,
   many and bitter,
   you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
   you will again bring me up.
You will increase my honor
   and comfort me once more.