Like many wonderful things in life, there are two sides to every coin. Spring is no exception.
On the one hand, I love the warmer weather. I love hearing the sounds of birds singing again, and the vibrant green growth popping up all over Arkansas on once bare and cold trees.
On the other hand: allergies. As soon as I start seeing flowers, you can bet that I’m going to start sneezing, getting headaches, and continuously rubbing my itchy eyes.
Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth; it’s certainly a stunning reminder of the beauty of God’s creation.
The Bible speaks on this two-sided coin in Ecclesiastes, in the much-quoted first eight verses of chapter three – if you can’t remember the scripture, sing The Byrds’ classic anti-war song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” to yourself.
King Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, uses chapter three to present contrasts between things like weeping and laughing, silence and speaking, loving and hating, and war and peace. According to Solomon, there is a time for everything in life; a season for every activity under heaven.
One thing to note about these verses is that Solomon does not decide on whether these different items are good or bad; he merely presents them as everyday occurrences that almost everyone will face.
I think that’s important to remember as we enter different stages in life.
Although we may face hardship, even dismay, the good news is that tough times don’t last forever. Even though the sun goes down at night, you can always count on it to rise again in the morning. When trees lose their leaves in the fall, they are reborn in the spring.
And when life is too tough to bear, and we feel like we can’t go on anymore, remember that things will get better. They have to. There’s another side to that coin and a new season to experience.
So, I’ll get through my itchy eyes and my runny nose, and you’ll get through whatever you’re facing in life as well.
For everything there is a season, and seasons always change.