Springing Forward

Spring! This time of year, always brings to mind a special memory.

Several years ago, at a time leading up to the May graduation of one of our children, my mother came to visit. She arrived in the springtime. My mother was coming from South Africa, where the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere. So, it was Fall or Autumn in South Africa but Spring in America. She was therefore stepping into a contrast to the season she had just come from. Change!

One day, as we were driving somewhere in the greater Houston area during her visit, she exclaimed how brilliant was the green of the spring foliage of the trees. This particular year my mother’s visit was earlier in the spring than at other times and the contrast was particularly striking. The spring green of the new leaves of the trees was striking. So everywhere we went the brilliance of the spring green was notable.

Spring brings many changes. The bright colors of spring are a strong contrast to the grey and brown shades of winter. The new grass begins to spring up. Spring flowers begin to bloom. The sunrise gradually gets earlier. The daylight starts to get longer. The days get warmer as the season of cold gradually changes. People step into these changes and also prepare for this change.

“Watch and wait for the springing forth of the brilliant greens.”

What changed? Fresh sap was rising in the trees bringing new life. Seeds and bulbs were breaking open and flowers were budding and blooming. People put away their warm winter clothing and take out lighter spring and summer clothing. Yes, we step into these changes because we need to.

So it is that every spring I watch and wait for the springing forth of the brilliant greens. And I remember. “The trees are so bright and green.” What a beautiful way to embrace change. It is also a reminder to see life through another person’s perspective. And yes, every spring is different from another. It has new things of it’s own to announce. Spring forward.

Remember! We are constantly changing!