The Hope Of Spring

By Lisa Robertson

Last night was a late night for me.  I was one of  more than 200 women who gathered at the Princess Anne Country Club to hear Mary Elizabeth Stone try to give us some perspective on the past 3 years of her life.  “The Hope of Spring in the Dead of Winter” was a vivid depiction of how she and her family survived.  I wish that I had taken notes!  So many insights, so much wisdom, so much raw emotion and residual pain introduced in 3 short weeks of a 3 year marriage.   And this young couple was still years away for turning 30.

Right now, on January 26, 2012, Mary Elizabeth and Meade are spanning the celebration of the birth of her twin boys 3 years ago, January 21, 2009 and the tragic death of her son, Warren, 19 days later, the result of a medical accident.     

To me, these days between Jan 21 and Feb. 8 are a surreal bridge of life and death for this young, sweet family.

Her insight that is percolating with me this morning is this: “Warren was created for eternity.” 

We see the death of Warren as a tragedy, and it absolutely was.  Yet, the truth is that our understanding of life and death is miniscule when compared to greatness of God and eternity.  Today, we have lost the thought of eternity because everything we think we want or need is available to us in an instant!  We don’t know much about eternity, except that it lasts a loooooong time and that it is in heaven with God, our Father, and Jesus His Son. 

Eternity is our hope of spring in the dead of winter. The hope of eternity is what brings us life, when everything in our world seems dead; we  don’t get a broken life, but God gives us a healed and full life.   

Even when life stinks, God’s presence is still our best option.  Our only hope is God coming to us when nothing makes sense, our hearts are broken and we can’t stand the pain.  He helps to keep moving and gives us the strength to take the next step. 

"In Your presence there is fullness of joy, at Your right hand, there are pleasures forever.”   

 Psalm 16:11

This is one of life’s great miracles:  In the midst of death there is life.  In the dead of winter, we have the promise of spring.   

The promise of spring is the promise of God filling our life with His peace, His presence and His purpose.

Revelation 21:4 contains a dramatic description of heaven,  “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."

So many things don’t add up or make sense. We can’t wrap our life in a neat little perfect package and expect God to fit in.  But God...His faithful love will carry us through this dreary season of what appears to be dead and lifeless only to reveal His life; abundant life and the promise of spring.