GOD’S FOUR SEASONS

Our Creator has made lovely days and has given us deep hearts to enjoy them.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

I know many people prefer living in an area that’s warm year-round.  Still, I’m one of those people who enjoys experiencing all four seasons in their time.  Yes, even winter!  (I was born in January, and my sister insists that’s why I like winter!) I live in the Midwest, where we are privileged to experience all four seasons in their glory. 

Winter is wonderful–excluding hazardous driving and slippery, un-shoveled sidewalks!

I love taking walks in brisk, 20-degree weather, and I love walking when it’s snowing.  I love wearing sweaters and earmuffs.  Ice skating is fun, and sledding is even more fun.  And I really love being in a warm, cozy house during a winter storm, drinking tea or hot chocolate while sitting by the fireplace reading a book.  The pristine beauty of the snow after a fresh snowfall is stunning.  (I’m not so crazy about when it turns into “snirt,” which combines snow and dirt.)  But from December through February, I love winter!

March is a transition month, where I’m tired of winter and eager for spring. 

In the Chicagoland area where I live, March can be brutal, or it can be a promising tease of spring.  April and May are marvelously beautiful as we welcome spring’s loveliness after winter’s bleakness.  The sky is bright, the trees blossom, and the flowers burst into bloom.  The birds are busy calling to one another, courting and preparing nests for the eggs that will become baby birds.  Living near a pond, you can hear the frogs singing their courtship songs.  There’s more daylight each day, and the air is fragrant with fresh smells of new growth and life.  I love spring!

June, July, and August are the summer months that bring their own unique joys.

The summer months have a more relaxed atmosphere.  School is out, schedules are simpler, and people have vacations on their minds.  The warm/hot weather makes outdoor activities natural, inviting, and fun.  For me, I love anything in or by the water!  Swimming is heavenly!  June has a fresh, free feeling to it as summer begins.  July has a festive feel as the Fourth of July is celebrated.  Everything seems slow and lazy in August, as it’s usually the hottest month.  School starts before Labor Day (unlike when I was in school), so the pace picks up later in August as everyone prepares to return to school.  But summer is warm, green, and fun.  I love summer!

The fall months are glorious!

Fall is the best of all seasons.  The air is crisp and clear, and the temperature is warm to cool.  The sun is bright, the sky is SO blue, and the fall mums have blossomed in an array of deep reds to bright yellows.  And what can I say about the color of the tree leaves?  Radiant reds, glowing oranges, and crisp yellows are contrasted by the dark green of the evergreens.  It is nothing less than spectacular!  Our town’s colors seem to be more vibrant this year than ever.  Driving around the area takes my breath away.  I find myself praising God out loud for the beauty of the fall colors.  I love fall!

God’s unique touch is found in each season.

From the intricate individual snowflakes in winter to the bursting blossoms in spring, to the lushness of summer, and to the brilliant colors of fall, God’s fingerprints are on each season.  The Bible tells us “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”  (Romans 1:20) 

I marvel at His creation!  Take trees, for instance. 

In the winter, trees are dormant, conserving energy and producing no new growth.  In spring, the tree sap rises, bringing nutrients out to each branch so that leaves, flowers, and fruit may be produced.  This goes on throughout the summer growing season.  In the fall, the sap falls, and the trees return to dormancy for the winter.  When the sap falls, the leaves no longer receive nutrients, so they die and fall off the tree.  But instead of turning brown and immediately dropping off the tree branches, they stop producing chlorophyll, which makes them green, and the brilliant colors of red, orange, and yellow show forth for a while.  Why?  Is it just so we can enjoy the beauty?

It’s like with the birds in the spring—so many different species, looks, and colored plumage.  And the flowers that grow throughout the summer—such a wide variety of shapes and colors.  Why?  I believe it is just for us to enjoy.   Even the snow-covered winter landscapes are beautiful in their way.

Thank God for His Seasons.

The book of Ecclesiastes says, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under Heaven.”

God has given us His creation to enjoy in its seasons.  I hope you will think about that as you marvel in the beauty of this fall season!