The Hope of Spring

The hope of spring:  it amazes me each year.

Last year, I had planted three unusual crepe myrtles, a low-growing, small variety with cascades of lavender blooms appearing in the hot weather.  They didn’t do particularly well last year–fairly normal for newly planted landscape foliage, but by late fall, I wasn’t sure they would survive at all.  I guessed they didn’t make it through the winter–going into those really cold days could easily have been too much for plants already stressed and fragile.

I was surprised to see that one of them showed some leafing out Saturday morning.  The other two looked very dead, and I began to mentally consider what I might use to replace them.

I was completely shocked when, about three hours later, I looked at those other two plants and saw tiny leaves popping out all over.  In just a few hours, and very, very early in the year, in my opinion, these three young plants said, “I’m alive, I’m well and I will produce this year!”

In just a few hours, what looked dead sprang to life.  I checked them again this morning–there are certainly some dead branches on those young plants, but it very much appears that they will do well.  I’ll trim them in a few more days, and then watch and see what happens.

Spring is always a sign to me of Resurrection hope.  Lent is the time for the trimming of my soul. Every soul needs it, mine very much included.

How is your soul trimming coming?