Why Winter?

As much as I love the new life that comes with spring and warmer weather, the journey through the other seasons to get there can be brutal.  The summer is manageable and even enjoyable despite the uncomfortableness that comes when the heat turns up on you.  Fall is even pretty pleasant with the autumn harvest and beautiful changing foliage.  The weather is almost perfect and there is still plenty of sun to enjoy. 

But winter...  What a long slog that can be.  Bitter temperatures.  Lack of sunlight.  Cold and flu season.  The struggle is real. 

The plant world provides some interesting lessons about winter.  Some plants need the "exposure to the prolonged cold of winter," a process called vernalization, to flower at the right time.  The flowering could come after a period of growth or dormancy once the plant gets through the cold.   Other plants become hardened during winter, which enables them to adapt to the stress of cold temperatures by relocating nutrients to different parts of the plant.  So there is no reason to lament the appearance of barrenness during winter.  God is still at work, allowing His creation to adapt for survival and preparing it for a season of blossoming to come!

Speaking of blossoming...  I had the awesome opportunity to preview Kayla Aimee's new book, In Bloom, which uses a biblical perspective to explore our never ending struggle with self-doubt and insecurity.  The book releases February 6, 2018 and is available at LifeWay here.  Kayla will be hosting a virtual launch party complete with door prizes February 6 on Facebook.  You can register to attend here.  Stay tuned for a review of the book on February 6!