On a recent lazy Saturday morning, I woke up late, and then sat to enjoy a quiet moment with my hot cup of coffee. The weather was beautiful, and I decided to take my dog for a walk at a nearby park.

I had not been to this park since the winter, and I was pleasantly surprised to see all of the new growth bursting on the trees, the bright green of the springtime grass, and to hear the sounds of birds singing. The transition from our Texas “winter” to Spring had started.

It was almost as if the birds were announcing that Spring has sprung! There were many people walking in the park with their families – some with their dogs, others with their friends, and some enjoying a moment by themselves. There were people fishing on the lake in kayaks, and children playing sand volleyball. It was as if the entire town had woken from their winter slumber to come and enjoy Spring in the fresh air and sunshine.

Everything seemed so fresh and new.

A scripture from Revelation 21:1-7 came to mind as I walked and soaked in the beauty all around.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.

Spring is a beautiful time to remember that God continues to make “all things new.” It’s as if God is saying, “Jennifer, remember, new life is coming! The dreariness of the 2022 winter will not last forever.” And I have to admit, the last year has been stressful for all of us as we have ministered to our churches during a pandemic.  

Even when the world seems to be asleep, the leaves have fallen from the trees, and winter has frozen the ground – there is new life waiting patiently beneath. This new life shows its full face in Spring, and you need only to go outside and notice the flowers, trees and grass that have burst forth with amazing color and beauty!

God is making all things new, all the time.

Spring to me is a reminder of God’s promise to come again to dwell among us, to wipe away every tear. Death, mourning, crying and pain will be no more. We can trust that these things are true. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. We will drink from the spring of the water of life. Thanks be to God!

Rev. Jennifer Gros the Associate Pastor at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring, Texas. If you are ever in the area, Jennifer and the rest of the staff and congregation would love to have you stop by to worship with them.

Springing into Joy is brought to you by the Communications Department of the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. To be considered as a future blogger, please contact Shannon W. Martin, Director of Communication at Click to email.