COUNTDOWN

A bit early in posting this dated story but would probably forget to on the 15th.

Photo taken yesterday.  Snow in the forecast for the next few days.

Countdown

Countdown to spring!

It's March 15th.

Temps are warming up.

Spring bulbs popping up.

In five more days spring begins.

Can't wait to finally dig in!

Countdown to spring!

It's March 16th.

Resume yearly walk

around the country block.

In four more days spring begins.

Even my dog seems to grin.

Countdown to spring!

It's March 17th.

After walking around the block,

anticipated spring yard work starts.

In three more days spring begins

fulfilling an inner yen.

Countdown to spring!

It's March 18th.

After cutting a forsythia bouquet to force,

planted a row of lettuce - and spinach, of course.

In two more days spring begins.

So glad to see winter end.

Countdown to spring!

It's March 19th.

Temperatures are chilly again.

Working inside not as much fun.

Tomorrow spring will begin.

There's much to do in the garden.

It's finally here! March 20th again.

According to the calendar - spring!

Wonder what this coming year will bring?

Can't wait to see flowers blooming.

Can't wait to see trees flowering.

Ah, wonderful, exciting spring!

According to the calendar - spring!

It's March 21st. Birds heard singing.

Though still cold, it’s sunny and bright.

Good to see the birds in flight.

Happy to see spring bulbs

point to the heavens above.

According to the calendar spring!

It's March 22nd. Crocus' blooming.

Weather forecasters say snow.

They've been wrong before, you know,

‘cause it's spring

once again!

According to the calendar spring!

It's March 23rd. When will spring begin?

Snow covers the trees.

I'm not at all pleased!

Where did spring go?

It's covered with snow!

When will spring begin?

When will winter end?

* * * * *

What are you counting down? A birth?

Maybe a reduction in girth?

We find there's always something to look forward to.

A celebration? Maybe the end of the flu?

The end of the workweek?

Weekends to catch up on sleep?

A concert? The end of car payments?

Annual vacations? Retirement?

Paul had another view of what to count.

Not at all measured in how we might count.

It's a continual practice.

An inner quality, not selfish.

It's your spirit growing,

a faith that's sowing

outward to others -

your friends and neighbors.

A kind word, a good deed.

A sharing instead of greed.

A willing, helping hand

offered to those not clan.

A being there

when life's not fair.

A love through example

where others had trampled.

A testimony of faith

so that another's faith

will grow stronger

and they'll hunger

and be satisfied

with all God does provide.

A love personified

where God does reside.

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:6

I will show you my faith by what I do.

James 2:18b

His faith and his actions were working together,

and his faith was made complete by what he did.

James 2:22

We continually remember before our God and Father

your work produced by faith,

our labor prompted by love,

and your endurance inspired by hope

in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thessalonians 1:3

Photo taken yesterday 3/9/23.

Life Is a Garden Party

is available via Amazon.