| Dear Friends,
I heard a spoof on the radio this month set to the Christmas song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” except the hosts sang that January, the time after Christmas, was “The Worst Time of the Year.”
Sure it’s cold, rainy, and not as glitzy as December, yet I crave the quiet of January. As a gardener, the rainy, cold season is prime time to think about how my garden will grow in warmer days. Now is the time to redesign, plan ahead, and move existing plantings. Gardening in the rainy season gives ample time for the root structures to grow so plants will thrive when hot sunny days return.
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Psalm 126:5
Sometimes there’s a season in life that just feels cold and sad. I’ve felt that many times as a widowed mom. The last thing I want to do during a cold/rainy season is get outside and dig in the dirt. I’d rather curl up and watch a movie instead. But I know that Spring is sure to come and I want to reap a bountiful harvest in the shining sun. So I take advantage of the rain, rain that makes the ground soft and ready to support new life.
You may be feeling sad right now, but that’s just the rainy season and, with time and effort, new life will grow.
I get quiet in January to garden the landscape of my life and ponder what is growing well and what parts of my life aren’t thriving.
I love a word I heard from speaker Boyd Bailey, “God’s language is silence and He is calling you to become fluent.”
In this quiet season, I encourage you to take time to plant new purpose, move existing plans to become more efficient and impactful, and weed the distractions.
Because, as sure as the sun rises, spring will come and we want to be ready. My first step, is to spend time with the Lover of my soul, Jesus, who knows a thing or two about gardens of the heart.
“See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
12 Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.”
Song of Songs 2:11-13
So let’s take this time in the quiet of January, as a community of widows and friends, to dream and plan ahead because spring is sure to come!
Please be patient with us at Widow Strong as we are taking time this month to meet and plan to best serve our widows and kiddos in 2022! More to come online and in-person! |
